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The Harvest Moon


Date:  February 10, 2001
Places:  High Reaches Weyr's Western Bowl and Living Cavern
Game:  PernMUSH
Copyright Info:  The World of Pern is copyright(c) to Anne McCaffrey 
l967. The Dragonriders of Pern(r) is a registered copyright.

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Kassi's Note:  Several Telgar women were invited to the High Reaches
Harvest Festival; on impulse, we rummaged around in our virtual closets
for appropriate costumes and went.  As a result, we were treated ICly
to excellent food and conversation (teacups and a mooning contest were
mentioned!), and OOCly to an evening's worth of excellent RP. :)

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The Log:

You fly down to land gently on the ground.

<*> In the sky directly above, Cariath wings down and lands lightly on the
ground.

You slide off of Lysseth's neck to land beside her easily. She rumbles,
cocking her head down at you, and you rub her eyeridges gratefully.

Tarlo climbs down from between Cariath's neck ridges.

Tarlo climbs down from Cariath's neck, giving her an affectionate rub.
"Don't be too flirty now." she teases. "Enjoy yourself, beautiful." she
waves to Kassima, calling, "Mind if I walk in with you?"

In the sky directly above, Saulith flies down to land gently on the ground.

Kichevio slides down easily from Saulith's neck.

Kassima rustles on down from her perch on high, with some care for the
skirts--less out of concern for the material than out of concern that it
might slide a bit higher than she'd want it to. "I hate dresses," she
decides, quite cheerfully. "Though yours has a fine look, Tarlo, with all
that red. I don't mind a whit--and," she observes, with a glance up, "if'n
we wait a beat, we might have company. Heyla, Kichevio!"

Kassima:
	Tall, slender, and still appearing younger than her late thirties age,
Kassima's Turns seem further lessened by fine mood she's in this evening;
dark, canted emerald eyes contain a lightening sparkle, and a grin is never
far from view.
	Glazed cotton dyed lurid vermillion forms the wide sleeves and full skirts
of her amply cut gown. Tight across shoulders and snug under curves, the
square bodice of duller sable supports flesh as well as opaque, tissue-fine
pleats falling unbound to ankle-length edges. Finger-wide black cord
encircles collar, cuffs, and hems, stark against the carnelian gloss;
thinner black stitches emphasis into soft suede shoes matching the dress's
rustling, rust-red comfort.
	As far as ornaments go, the cascading fall of her blue-black hair surely
counts as one; earrings dripping blood-hued jewels form another set, and
the large pendant ruby nestled just above neckline is a third. No
detracting knot is worn, no sign of rank given, but the unconscious ease
and confidence of her bearing might hint at her position as a ranking
dragonrider.

Temornath is curled up on a conveniently comfortable spot on the bowl floor

Kichevio hits the ground with a rustle of skirts. "Oh good, I'm not late?
We _rushed_..."

Temornath is curled up on a conveniently comfortable spot on the bowl floor
-her regular companion, NPC Blue Carpeth is nearby, sleeping. When the
visiting dragons arrive, Temornath lifts her head and trumpets a nice, loud
greeting.

Tarlo grins. "Ooh, Kichevio, you're wearing The Dress. It looks fabulous!"

In the sky directly above, Mvraeth swoops down to a landing on the ground.

Kichevio poses, and dips into a curtsey--almost too low of one, considering
the neckline of that dress. "Why thank you. I rather think so, myself. So
do you both!"

F'tan slides with ease down from his place between his lifemate's
neckridges. As he reaches the ground, Mvraeth croons happily.

Mvraeth warbles a soft greeting to the Dragons here.

"Nay as far as I know, though I've nay idea whether I'm late either or
nay," Kassi confesses, while trying not to stare at Kich's dress. Not in a
lascivious way, you understand. "That's a striker," is safe to say, and
quite likely correct. "You'll have men drooling down the neck of it, I
warrant. But thankee most kindly! I think 'twere just about t'head
in--duties to Igen and her queens," she breaks off to greet, tone cordial.

Mvraeth lifts his head towards Temornath and croons warmly.

Cariath finds a place to settle and warbles a greeting to the other dragons.

Saulith croons around to all and sundry, with a polite dip of her head
toward Temornath.

Tarlo smiles over to F'tan. "Duties to Igen and her queens." she echoes,
and looks around. "Shall we go inside?"

F'tan smiles and nods politely.

In the sky directly above, Alerith wings down and lands lightly on the ground.

"What neck?" Kich asks innocently, before turning to grin at F'tan. "Let's
go?"

Cariath lifts her head to bugle a greeting to Alerith.

F'tan smiles again staring at Kichevio. "Sure."

Lysseth relaxes into a most informal, comfortable sprawl right where she
is, flicking her tail and rumbling to the dragons who've recently arrived.
Kassi rewards her with a clout on the shoulder. "Be *good*, lump. Nay more
seducing local browns; you're nay going t'rise again for a good long time,
or at least you'd *better* not. After you lot?" she suggests, with a
flourished gesture towards the Living Cavern.

Saulith croons louder at Alerith.

Alerith trumpets his arrival with a quite fancy landing--fluttering his
burgundy wings so that they flash in the sun. Isn't he lovely? Isn't he
handsome? *preen*

Merielan carefully dismounts from Alerith's long neck.

Kichevio sweeps another curtsey and proceeds toward the Living cavern.

Kichevio meanders into the tunnel to the living cavern.

F'tan walks into the tunnel to the living cavern.

Tarlo waves to Meri, apparently she's going to linger just long enough for
Merielan to catch up.

"You are..unbelievable.." Meri mutters at her preening brown. "No one's
glowing--Temornath is -not- going to move into your weyr..so give it up."
Another snort as Meri settles herself firmly on the ground "No--Cariath
isn't either..your stuck with Fasolth." Dragon berated Meri turns to go
inside and then notices the wave, she smiles and waves back "Hullo Tarlo.."

Kassima wiggles her fingers brightly to Meri, then strides after the
others, long-legged steps that don't really go well with a dress. No wonder
she doesn't wear them more often.

You walk into the tunnel to the living cavern.

A long table stretches out with an array of foodstuffs laid out upon it. In
a large shallow bowl resides the centerpiece, made to be eaten of course, a
sculpture of citrus 'sorbet'. A bowl of 'chowder' is down at one end, while
a dish of noodle 'salad' lies at the other. Stacks of plates, cups, and
eating utensils are scattered between and around the food layout. Other
dishes consist of 'fish', and a 'wherry' roast. A small spread of desserts
is in one corner. Apple 'pastry', and klah 'cake' are some of the different
kinds. Pitchers of water, pressed cider from Nabol, wine from Tillek, and
fresh klah are placed around the table. ('table help' is available.)

Lysseth> Tarlo smiles. "Hello!" she says cheerfully, and offers her hand.
"Shall we?"

Kichevio looks around with wide eyes as she comes in, admiring the
decorations. "It looks _great_ in here. Telgar's duties to the Reaches."

Lysseth> Temornath croons a glad welcome to the two browns, curving her
neck coyly - just so. Her tail swishes before curving around her hind
quarters.

Cloretta strides through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Lysseth> In the sky directly above, Imanath backwings to a neat landing on
the ground.

Lysseth> In the sky directly above, Ysyth backwings to a neat landing on
the ground.

Elya carries her plate towards one of the tables, and pauses to speak to
Talene. "Hello...don't I know you? Weren't you at Fort?"

Jacera grins at Elie. "You've been working hard. You deserve a chance at
some dinner."

Lysseth> Merielan eyes Tarlo up and down and sighs gently "You look
lovely--I had to come same as always..none of my gowns fit anymore."

Lysseth> Talisha hops down from Imanath, landing on the ground with a soft
thump.

F'tan tries to follow Kichevio but find a quiet spot to look around too. He
doesn't say a word. Just nod.

Talene blinks at Elya. She swallows, and glances around carefully. She
nods, and responds, "I was a Candidate there for a while, yes."

Lysseth> From on top of Ysyth, Tella turns around on the green's back,
looking to Mouse. "Can you unbuckle yourself?" As she asks, she goes about
doing that very thing for herself.

Elie oohs. "Look! Some people from Telgar are here." She grins at Jacera
and detaches herself to cross the room and greet the aforementioned riders.
"'Reaches duties to Telgar," she says, quite proper. "I'm glad you could
join us this evening."

Elya grins. "I thought I recognized you. I'm Elya...Saphan's my cousin's
son. Oh...S'phan."

Lysseth> Tarlo grins. "Remind me to tip Katlynn a suggestion for designing
some lovely maternity clothes." She waves happily to Talisha, and ever the
little seamstress, eyes the greenrider's clothing.

By now, the harper youths have de-cloaked themselves, and have begun to set
up their chairs on the wooden platform set up for the harpers and their
instruments, away from the stomping feet of the weyrfolk and visitors. They
have taken out their instruments, placing their cases and carry-sacks away,
so as to minimize clutter. A few of the harper lads are distracted,
however, as they flirt with a passing caverns girl here and there, while
the harper lasses make pretty eyes at the men who watch them.

Lysseth> From on top of Ysyth, Mouse unbuckles herself after a moment of
fussing. "I can do it."

Kassima trails a step or three in the others' wake, slowing down after she
crosses the room's threshhold. "Duties to the 'Reaches and her queens," she
seconds, "and doesn't it, though? I've nay seen a spread like that since...
ach, Faranth alone knows." Turning a grin on Elie, she assures, "The
pleasure's ours, I'm certain!"

Lysseth> From on top of Ysyth, Tella grins, nodding before sliding down the
green's side and offering a hand to help Mouse down.

Lysseth> Tella slides down the side of the small green, using her foreleg
as a stair. Ysyth turns and rumbles a goodbye to her.

Lysseth> Talisha drapes her flying jacket over one of Imanath's straps,
then turns around to wave back to Tarlo. "Ohh, nice jacket Tarlo." she
smiles, wandering over. "Hey Meri."

Kichevio smiles. "Thank you for having us. Hello Talene, good to see you
again...and you know S'phan. How's he doing with weyrlinghood, or do you
know?" Yes, she can talk to threee people at once. It's a talent.

Kerellen is a tall, freckled young woman with a mop of the most amazing red
hair that she keeps pinned up in a loose, messy bun on the top of her head.
She has a small, cute nose, and bright green eyes that sparkle with humor.
Her chin is pointy, her jaw sharp, her body lean and angular. Still, there
is a undeniable attractiveness to her, set off by her smile, which is
utterly captivating and makes a large dimple in her right cheek. Karellen
is dressed in a low cut pale green dress and has her hair held by a silver
pin.

Lysseth> Tarlo ooh's in appreciation. "Talisha, that's beautiful." she
gives Merielan a companionable hug. "You look radiant, so you outshine your
clothes anyway. Duties to Ista and her queens!" she calls to Tella.

Lysseth> Mouse slides down the side of the small green, using her foreleg
as a stair. Ysyth turns and rumbles a goodbye to her.

Lysseth> Mouse accepts the hand down gratefully.

Lysseth> Saulith stays planted beside Mvraeth. A brown in the hand is
worth...well, quite a bit.

Lysseth> Alerith rumbles -just- so back at Temornath, curling quite
handsomely up next to her and curling his neck in an offer to twine.

Divya strolls into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Lysseth> Tella turns towards Tarlo with a grin, offering a wave to the
woman. After a moment's hesitation, she replies, "And duties to Telhar's."

Elie turns to offer a small curtsey to Kassima. "You're welcome to join us
for our feast. It's serve-your-own-plate, but there should be enough for
everyone and more."

Jacera mills around the cavern and greets people as they arrive. She smiles
and waves to Divya as the Bluerider enters, then moves on to greet some
Istans.

Lysseth> Konnevath rumbles a greeting to all the newly arrived dragons,
especially the lovely green Lysseth.

Lysseth> Ysyth peers at Tella for a moment before glancing around to the
crowd of dragons. She rumbles a hello before settling on her haunches.

Lysseth> Merielan snorts "That's just a nice way of saying I'm fat--but
thank you Tarlo. Let's go inside before I get even more depressed."

Lysseth> Imanath prances across to greet her golden clutchsib -crooning-
softly to the telgari gold. She then settles herself down--eyeing all the
males from beneath a wing, which she bends over her head.

Talene glances from Kichevio to Elya, confused and...scared? She takes Elya
first, curstying and extending her hand for a brief shake. "It's a pleasure
to meet you, sir. Perhaps we'll have a chance to speak again later." She
turns quickly, smiling at Kichevio, "Good evening, rider. It's good to see
you as well. How's Saulith? Is she well? I haven't seen Weyrling S'pahn for
a while, since I left, but I have heard that he and the others are doing
fine."

Lysseth> Tarlo chastizes, "You are not fat..." as they proceed inward.

A clear sound of twanging and banging is now audible, as the harpers tune
their instruments for optimum sound and pleasure. They are hunched over
each item, brow furrowed with intensity and concentration, as they twist
knobs, flip levers, tie strings, and stretch hide during their tuning process.

Merielan wanders in from the tunnel to the bowl.

Tarlo wanders in from the tunnel to the bowl.

Elya nods at Talene, and carries her plate to a table.

Lysseth> Tella turning to Mouse, she grins, guesturing towards the living
cavern. "Shall we?"

Lysseth> Talisha sends a wave across to Tella, calling out, "Telgar's
duties.." before heading into the living cavern.

Talisha meanders into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Kerellen finds a place at a table and begins eating, glancing shyly around
at the others.

Kassima doesn't hesitate to return the curtsey in full measure. Her wide
skirts rustle audibly as she does so. "That is a definite pleasure, and
don't mind if'n I do, if'n you're certain 'tis all right... it looks
magnificent. Is that sorbet in the center there?" A small wince crosses her
features at the various twangs; she glances towards the Harpers, and makes
a soft 'ahh' sound upon seeing them tuning.

Lysseth> Mouse nods after a moment, smiling. "All right," she says, just
loud enough to carry.

Lysseth> Tella nods, patting Ysyth's side before heading in.

Tella meanders into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Kichevio answers as she aims toward the serving tables. "Saulith is
well...courting all the males outside even now, the silly thing. She'll be
flattered you remember her."

Mouse strolls into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Lysseth> Cariath whuffles Imanath, and begins to boy - err, dragon watch.

Lysseth> Lysseth stays right where she is, not about to twine or cuddle
with any golds. Nope, nope. Not her sort of game. *Browns*, however...
well, she still stays where she is, but her warble to Konnevath does have a
certain warmth to it.

Divya waves to the riders and calls out, "High Reaches' duties to all of
you!" When she sees a certain Telgari rider she adds, "Hello, Kassima! Good
to see you again!"

Merielan pauses just inside the arch, eyeing all the finery about with a
raised eyebrow and a soft sigh. Spotting an old friend she grins widely and
makes a bee-line for her "Divya!"

Tarlo calls out cheerfully, "Telgar's duties to High Reaches and her queens!"

"I thought I saw them making..." Elie glances toward the serving tables as
she speaks. "Oooh, it is! How delightful!" She turns back to Kassima and
beams happily. "I'm going to get in line!" Manners, and greeting people--
it's all very well, but there comes a point when food is just more important.

Talisha clutches a fold of fabric in her hand, lifting it up just enough so
her dress doesn't drag along the ground. She wanders in, offering greetings
here and there.

Tella strides into the room beside Mouse, a grin curving her lips. She
surveys the crowd, raising a hand to wave at those she knows.

Talene nods her head, "I am glad that she's doing well." She glances
towards the serving tables as well, and makes a quick curtsey, "Excuse me."
She says politely, diving into the crowd, heading to stand in line.

One of the assistant headwomen approaches the Harper Master who has been
set in charge of the young performers sent by the hall and joined by those
at the weyr. She quietly mutters to him to give a little background noise
to make the atmosphere more pleasant. The Harper Master snorts, obviously
insulted that the music be called noise, but complies. He raises his baton
and instructs the gitars to begin playing a simple melody.

F'tan smiles as he spots Tella.

Divya grins and says, "Merielan! Welcome to 'Reaches!" She does a
double-take and says, "Shells, you're getting bigger! And pregnancy seems
to be agreeing with you."

Mouse scuttles behind Tella as soon as she can, the much shorter girl
peeking around every so often.

Kassima laughs brightly and dips her chin in a mock-solemn nod. "Best hurry
a'fore 'tis gone--I'll be nay far behind, I can promise you!" Hearing her
name called, she twists to scan the Cavern. "Divya, duties and g'deve!
Always a pleasure."

Tarlo waves to various people she knows, offering greetings and scoring
herself a cup of wine.

Kichevio half-ducks, grinning as she steps into line behind Talene. "Duties
flying everywhere--some of them might hit us." She winks.

Tella rests her hands on her hips, turning towards the music as it starts.
She chuckles softly before looking back to Mouse. "There you are. I was
afraid I'd lost you in the crowd." With a grin, she looks around once more,
spotting F'tan. "Hey, Mouse. Come meet someone." She heads over.

Merielan snorts anew "Bigger and bigger--nice to see you though Divya and
thank you." She eyes the food tables and mmMs a bit beneath her breath "How
have you been Div?"

Elie joins the food line, winding up sandwiched between Kichevio and a
rather tall, handsome young lad with a Tillek resident's knot. This state
of things suits Elie marvelously, and she smiles at the boy, gesturing
discreetly with her hands at Talene to draw the other girl's attention to him.

Divya grins wickedly and says, "Up to no good, actually. I'll give you
details later, after it's safe." She mouths to Kassima, "You ready too?"

F'tan bows and winks at Tella. "F'tan, Mvraeth's rider at Igen." He says to
Mouse.

The background "noise" is barely enough to be heard over the stomping feet
and loud talking, and Master Uselys's face turns redder and redder as the
music is ignored, scoffed, and drowned out by the people in the living
cavern. The performers cast each other worried gazes, knowing full well how
the Master has a tendancy to blow his top.

Kassima gathers her skirts up enough so that they won't impede her path to
the food line. "Pardon, excuse me, pardon--oh, beautiful gown, Talisha. I
love the colors." Not that she would be possessed of a bias or any such
thing. She takes a place back in the line, not far from the others, where
she can eye that citron sorbet with trepidation... and as it happens, also
see what Divya's mouthing and respond with a terribly wicked wink. 'You'd
better believe,' she mouths back.

Talene glances behind her at Kichevio and smiles, with another gracious
nod, "It's very crowded in here." Shelooks out amongst the people. Out of
the corner of her eye, she spots Elie's wavings behind her, and turns,
glancing up at the boy and immediately blushing furiously. She turns and
coughs, with an inhalation of breath, pointing to the table. "I'd try the
sorbet," she suggests to Kichevio.

Mouse tags along behind Tella, almost sidling sideways as she tries to stay
behind the rider. "Who?" she asks, simply, peeking around again.

Merielan eyes Divya and Kassima with trepidation but simply gives a
headshake for the things she can't change. Food is eyed once more as Meri
grabs a plate and begins to put this and that upon it.

Tarlo keeps quiet, occaisionally nodding or greeting people. Sometime soon,
someone she knows should show up, or come along.

Elya sets her fork down with a sigh and heads for the group of Harpers.

As luck would have it, it's Talene rather than Elie who catches the
Tillekian lad's eye. "Hello there," he calls to her, leaning around both
Elie and Kichevio to smile at the former candidate.

Tella chuckles as Mouse misses the greeting, coming to a stop beside F'tan.
She gestures to him. "This is F'tan, Mvraeth's rider at Igen," she repeats.
Then to F'tan, "This is Mouse."

"Thankyou." Talisha turns her head just in time to catch Kassi's comment.
She spots Tarlo out of the corner of her eyes--likely standing there and
doing the exact same thing she is. So she heads over in that direction,
leaning in to murmurs to her. "Did you see Kich's dress?"

Tarlo nods adamantly. "Daring, isn't it? It was a gift, she told me."

F'tan eyes Kichevio for a /very/ short time and then smiles at Mouse. "Well
met Mouse." He turns towards Tella. "Lot's of unknow faces here for me..."

F'tan reddens.

As the serving line grows, snaking through the cavern despite that it's
moving steadily along, the harpers select a change of music. The woodwinds
are taken out, and Master Uselys inspects each one to make sure that
they're intact and well kept. Satisfied that they are properly maintained,
he steps back and instructs them to begin playing. The woodwinds are a
little louder than the gitars, and a few more faces turn to acknowledge the
harpers' presence.

Talene glances behind her yet again, to find herself looking at the boy
from Tillek. Shells! She smiles graciously, and gives a little curtsey.
WIth nothing else to say, she turns to the sorbet. "The sorbet is
excellant, you should try it."

"I'd be delighted to," the boy replies, his gaze steady on Talene as his
smile turns into a grin. "Perhaps you'd like to join me when we're seated?"

Kichevio winks at F'tan before obediently accepting Talene's advice and
trying the sorbet. "It _is_ good. Did you make it?"

Elie tries to hide her disgruntlement by turning to speak to Kichevio. "Did
you have a nice trip from Telgar?" she asks, too loudly.

Mouse smiles hesitantly. "Hello, F'tan, and greetings from Ista." She looks
left and right over her shoulder, as if keeping tabs on someone - anyone -
she knows well. "I've never been to Igen, how is it?"

Divya walks over to the harpers to say hello to the ones she knows from her
days at the Hall, then joins the serving line.

Tella raises a brow as she sees his face redden, but doesn't comment.
Instead, she nods, placing her hands on her hips once more as she peers
around the mass of people. "Same for me. But there are a few familiar.."
Her gace lingers on Kichevio for a moment before looking away.

Kassima flashes a quick smile to Talisha, another--more impish--to
Merielan, and then she's up to the food at last and makes no bones about
going for the sorbet straight off. Then chowder, then wherry, then cider...
it'll be a wonder if she still fits in that dress by night's end, but she
seems pleased enough as she sashays in her rustling manner over to one of
the tables. "Lovely music," she murmurs to no one in particular, while
taking to fork and spoon.

Kerellen finishes eating and sits by herself in the corner.

That same assistant headwoman approaches Master Uselys again. She pulls on
his sleeve and whispers in his ear. His fuzzy eyebrows gather over his dark
grey eyes and he grunts, nodding. He proceeds to instruct his harpers to
pull out their gitars again.

"It was a good trip," Kichevio answers Elie, trying not to smile. "Saulith
loves trips. Is Emilly here tonight? I was hoping to see her..."

Kallrina walks into the cavern from the lower caverns.

F'tan chukles and looks from Tella to Mouse. "It's nice and...warm. As warm
at Ista I presume."

Kallrina smiles and waves. "Good eve all.

Jacera turns toward Kallrina and waves to her as she enters. "Hello!"

Elie glances around the cavern, standing on her tiptoes the better to see
who's here. "I don't see her!" she says, sounding disappointed. "I thought
surely she'd be here. Perhaps she's off somewhere with G'rad again."

From Kallrina's shoulder, Belle chirps a hello as well,

Merielan's head tilts to the side "Shard it.." She murmurs, having a last
bite of sorbet before hurrying out.

Shoshana strolls into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Merielan walks outside to the bowl.

Divya waves to Kallrina and says, "Hey there!"

Tella nods in agreement as her gaze returns to the brownrider. "Yes, though
a bit less humid."

Mouse absently twirls part of her hair around a finger. "I wouldn't know,
I've never been there," she says, then falls quiet so as not to embarrass
herself further.

Kallrina looks closely at F'tan's ring.

Talene's eyebrows rise as she looks to Elie for help. She laughs quietly,
"Uh...I geuss so...but we need food, of course." She gestures to the table
and grabs herself some wherry, lots of sorbet, and looks to be about to get
some cider, but glancing at the boy she grabs some wine instead, with a
hesitant smile. Immediately after seeing Shoshana, she dives into the crowd
and hides behind the baker.

Kassima's eyes catch on Merielan's retreating form. "What's up with her?"
she asks, bemused, glancing towards the other Telgar-folk as though they
might know.

Lysseth> Konnevath rumbles to Lysseth and lumbers in her direction.

Dragon> Konnevath bespoke Lysseth with << Hello, pretty one. You have come
back to visit? >>

Kichevio laughs. "Well, they are in Love." She audibly capitalizes the
word. "I suppose they're allowed to sneak off occasionally.

F'tan keeps smiling retunring many different glance.

From Kallrina's shoulder, Belle starts to pull on a ribbon but at a
scolding glance from her pet stops.

"Who is?" Elie asks of Kichevio, perking up with interest. As Talene darts
off, she eyes the boy from Tillek once more. "/I'll/ sit with you," she
offers gallantly, but the boy doesn't seem to hear her-- he takes his plate
and darts off through the crowd, presumably in search of Talene.

Jacera smiles at Kallrina. "That's a lovely dress."

Shoshana sweeps in, fingering her carefully styled hair. She feels so out
of place without her apron. She whirls as she comes into the door, "Talene
what's wrong!?" she exclaims. As she waits for an explaination her gaze
sweeps around the room, settling on Kerellen, is that another baker she
see's? She rises on tiptoes to wave to her across the crowd...

Tarlo can't help herself. "Who's in love, Kich?" she grins by way of the
greenrider.

Lysseth> Konnevath senses that Lysseth confirms in faintly radiant blue, <<
We have--my rider wishes to socialize, you see. >> Humor there. << Which
gives me an excuse to visit too, so it all works out. >>

"Emilly and G'rad," Kich clarifies, trying _very_ hard not to laugh as the
Tillekian vanishes after Talene.

F'tan bows. "F'tan, Mvraeth's rider at Igen." He says to Talisha with a smile.

Lysseth> Lysseth tilts her head to watch the brown's approach, and
nonchalantly sweeps open one wing--there's space beneath it, if he might be
interested.

Kallrina smiles softly, "Thank you, tis the one that Lady Selchin gave me
as a thanks you, turns day gift.

Talisha glances around the cavern, gaze sweeping across several people
including F'tan. She smiles pleasantly--attention flicking quickly over to
Kich. "Are you in love?" she asks, having only picked up the last word.
"Talisha, green Imanath's." is said as her head turns back towards F'tan.

Tarlo beams. "G'rad's a sweetheart. Although I may never forgive him for
letting Behemoth show off his nasty eating habits to Cariath. She's so
messy now!"

The harpers play a pleasant melody with their instruments, trying to
maintain a finger snapping, toe tapping beat while they play, giving the
people something to talk to and the like. Master Uselys obviously does not
prefer this type of music, a scowl on his face, but it's what the public
wants.

Tarlo catches a murmur from Kich, and nods.

Kerellen heads for the table to find some sherbert, and spies some cake.
With a grin of delight she helps herself.

Tella hmms lightly, looking towards the food table. Tapping her toe on the
stone floor. "Hmm. I'm hungry. Anyone care to join me in line?" She looks
from Mouse to F'tan, but finds him talking to Talisha. With a shrug, she
heads for the table.

Kichevio says to Tali, with dignity, "I choose not to answer that question,
on grounds that it might incriminate me."

Kassima quips in an aside, grinning over at Tarlo, "I'd like t'see a *neat*
dragon. Something about eating creatures alive seems t'be encouraging mess;
if'n I had a mark for every time Lysseth's sent some poor creature's head
flying across the Grounds...." What a lovely conversation topic over
dinner, but Kassi doesn't seem to mind.

Elie ohs. "Right, of course. Well, they went on vacation a few sevendays
ago-- and wouldn't tell /anyone/ where they'd gone!" Elie seems almost
offended by this impertinence. "But they said next time, they'd bring some
of the rest of us along."

Jacera grins and nods to Kallrina. "Very nice, yes."

Mouse, on the other hand, follows Tella. Absently, she resettles her dress,
trying to get it to be a bit more comfortable. Or warm.

Talene grins at Shoshana, "What took you so long?" She searches the crowd,
and, upon seeing a certain handsome young man, she darts once again behind
Shoshana, "W-What's wrong..Nothing...of course, nothing." She stands up,
after a careful glance among the crowd.

Lysseth> Ysyth snorts lightly before opening up her muzzle in a loud yawn.
Blinking, she idly looks around.

Lysseth> Konnevath croons and takes Lysseth up on her invitation, if a bit
gingerly.

A group of young seacrafters has, it appears, found the wine-- with red
faces and cheerful expressions, they break into a ragged song that matches
the harpers' music for the first few bars and then diverges, creating
cacophony.

From Kallrina's shoulder, Belle twitters to Jacera about the pretty green
on her pets dress.

F'tan smiles while looking at Tella. "Well met Talisha." He says.

Jacera giggles amusedly and reaches up to give Belle a gentle scritch on
the neck. "If you say so, pretty."

Tarlo grins wryly to Kassi. "She only started doing that -after- Behemoth
showed off for her. Now she does it because she thinks it's fun."

The High reaches baker smiles, "Oh some things came up, I had to stop in
the kitchen." yeah figures. Shoshana peers around, and laughs softly,
"Suuure Talene..." she turns again to face her friend, whoo she's going to
get dizzy. "What's wrong? Hiding from someone?" Kerellen is waved at again,
"Hello!" she calls in her general direction.

Talisha reaches out, snagging a sweetroll from a tray one of the serving
drudges carries around. She smiles her thanks to the young lady, then
plucks up her skirt again, strolling across in F'tan's direction. "How are
you this evening?" she asks, trying to make conversation.

Tella blinks, almost jumping as those seacrafters break into song.
Especially since she's walking right by them as they do. With an amused
chucklem she plucks up a plate, tapping her lip with a finger as she eyes
the food. She piles a bit of wherry on her plate before adding a pastry.
Then, setting it down, she pours herself some wine. Looking to Mouse, "Got
your food?"

Talene takes a bite of her wherry, "Hmm...Did you cook the wherry? It's
excellant." She turns to look out in the crowd, "There was this young man,
and I just didn't want to talk him." An innocent smile is directed at her
friend, "That's all."

Kallrina Smiles softly as she looks around. "Not to big a crowd yet" she
says to Jacera

"But *'tis* fun," Kassima protests, innocence incarnate. "And if'n you're
watching the feeding with someone else, you can even make bets on how far
each head will fly. I got a thirty-second off W'ger that way just the other
day." Forking up a bite of wherry, she eyes it speculatively... wondering
how far *it* would fly, perhaps. But decorum wins out; she puts it in her
mouth, where it belongs. "Any idea what sent Meri out of here so fast?" she
wonders after swallowing. The fingers of her free hand have taken up
tapping in time with the Seacrafters' melody.

Tarlo shakes her head. "Afraid not." she admits, and then lets her eyes
draw to the serving table. "Everything looks so good."

"Well I'm fine. A bit lost seeing so many different and unknown faces, but
fine." F'tan answers. "I'm a bit scared too you know..." He looks around to
check something. "I think I'm the only male here." He winks.

Divya finally gets her own dinner and look around for a free seat. She
walks over to the Telgar table and asks, "Mind if I sit with you?"

Elie finishes loading up her plate. "You want to sit with me?" she asks
Kichevio, still a bit put out about that holder boy. Then she thinks to
ask, "I look okay, don't I?"

Lysseth> Lysseth warbles an inquisitive note at that gingerness; her wing
lowers, a gauze-thin blanket of dusty dragonflesh.

Kerellen sighs, looking lonely, and stands. Gathering up her skirts, she
heads for the exit.

Mouse nearly leaps as the Seacrafters start to sing. While she knows the
song, she's certainly not going to join in. Dishing out large portions of
her own, she nods at Tella. "I have food."

Kerellen strolls outside to the bowl.

Suddenly, a string breaks on one of the harpers' instruments, and a loud
"TWAAYANG!" can be heard. Master Uselys gasps and hops up onto the wooden
platform, moving swiftly through the harpers to find the instrument. He
frowns when he finds it and whips out another string from his vest pocket.
The harper apologizes and quickly fixes the problem.

Talisha glances around the cavern again, laughing softly to herself.
"Well..perhaps, but look.." she motions with one hands towards the tillek
boy seen earlier, and smiles at F'tan. "There's another. No need to be
scared--unless of course you find yourself with a pile of greenriders in
your lap." she takes a bite of sweetroll.

Kichevio smiles. "You look beautiful...do you want to chase that Tillek boy
around, or come on over to the Telgar table?" Something Talisha says makes
her grin widely.

Lysseth> Temornath rumbles once in the directioni of Konnevath and Lysseth.
She turns her head decisively away with a litlte bit of a toss and croons
over to brown Mvraeth.

Lysseth> Saulith is ensconced beside Mvraeth, and warbles politely, if
distantly, at Temornath.

Elya scowls from where she'd paused to grab a word with someone, and
threads her way through the crowd towards the Harpers.

Dragon> Konnevath bespoke Lysseth with << I am happy to sit with you. I
just wish to make sure you do not mind. You are a very strong green, and I
do not wish to anger you. >>

Elie draws herself up, looking haughty, or trying to, anyway. "I don't need
to chase him around! I'll sit with you guys," she declares.

Kassima looks up at Divya and quickly shakes her head. "Plenty of room, I'm
thinking, and 'tis your Cavern. Sit away and be welcome." She can't quite
resist making a face over at Talisha at the overheard mention of
greenriders in laps... or maybe it's at the sound of the snapping string.

Tella smiles, nodding to Mouse before making the journy back to F'tan. This
greenrider's not in his lap.. yet. But she sits at the table, putting fown
her plate and glass with a grin. Looking to Talisha, she offers, "Hello
there."

Shoshana begins to laugh softly, "Oh Talene! Alright which one is he? And
why don't you want to talk to him?" she asks. A small frown crosses her
face as the other baker leaves, shards she wanted to talk to her.

Lysseth> Mvraeth preens under the attention and warbles both at Temornath
and saulith.

Lysseth> Kerellen leans against the rocks and sighs, looking out over the
bowl. She glances at the dragons and nods her head politely in their
direction.

Lysseth> Konnevath senses that Lysseth's mindvoice ripples silver across
the blue, moonlight across water, delight across amusement: << You're too
kind; you flatter me. But no, I do not mind. I wouldn't offer a wing just
to snatch it away. >>

Kichevio starts weaving through the throng to the Telgar table, snaring two
seats across from Kassi and Tarlo. "The sorbet's great!" she announces.
"What else is?"

Tarlo gets herself a cup of chowder, taking it back to sit with the other
Telgari, and dramatically making approval sounds. "The chowder is
wonderful. Someone should take the recipe back with us to Telgar!"

F'tan chuckles at Talisha's words. "I'm saved so...Well I guess."

Lysseth> Imanath bends her other wing down over her head, rustling them up
just a little bit. She continues to peek out from beneath them--then flares
them out and back.

Kallrina takes a bowl of chowder and sits near the hearth looking around
the room.

The harpers go on with their playing, cheeks flushed with embarassment as
they try not to look at the people closest to the platform who hear and see
what they do on a more intimate level. Master Uselys is obviously
nonplussed, but keeps his conducting, likely going to handle it later.

Divya asks Kassima, "How is Merielan doing these days? She's gotten a lot
bigger since the last time I saw her."

Lysseth> Ysyth stretches her neck out idly to get a better view of
something on the ground nearby. Snorting at it, she pulls back, sulking as
she finds it's nothing interesting.

Talene fidgets, taking another bite of her wherry. She sees the Tillek boy
again, grabbing her wine and hiding behind Shoshana. She points him out,
but not before taking a long sip of her glass. "He's that one. Sure, he's
handsome, and tall....But...I don't like his eyes." The boy doesn't see her
and heads over to look on the other side of the Living Cavern, fortunately.

Elie follows in Kichevio's wake, looking relieved when they finally reach
the table and there's some relief from the press of people. "Hi," she says
shyly to Kassima and Tarlo, nodding to the greenrider whom she spoke to
earlier and sparing a curious glance for the junior weyrwoman.

Mouse perches near Tella, on the very edge of her seat, and simply watches
the others for a moment.

Lysseth> Kerellen starts, and looks around her before her eyes settle on
Saulith. "You mean me?" She swallows once. "Um...I don't really know
anywhere in there, and it was crowded..."

"Hello back." Talisha says with a pleasant smile to Tella. She eyes the
young woman's attire, "Lovely dress." she offers before taking another
small bite of her sweetroll. She glance again at F'tan--and even flicks a
look over to Kich..

"The chowder's *fantastic*," Kassima reports, gesturing with her fork. "And
the roast is a beautiful thing. Someone's really done their work up brown
in the kitchens. Heyla again." That's directed to Elie, along with a broad
smile. "Did you get your sorbet? I'm Kassima, by the way, or Kassi if'n
you'd rather. Green Lysseth's. Methinks I've seen you once a'fore--at one
of the lesson-nights here, mayhaps?" Shifting focus to Divya, she beams
outright. "There's a good reason for that. She and T'kar are t'be parents
in a few months, y'know--she seems healthy enough, and *he's* thrilled
enough that 'tis a wonder his head doesn't explode."

Lysseth> Saulith stretches out her neck toward the red-haired girl,
crooning pleasantly.

Lysseth> Temornath rumbles once, and then gathers herself to take flight,
heading the short distance to her ledge.

Lysseth> Kerellen smiles hesitantly at the dragon. "I'll be all
right...thanks for asking me."

F'tan decides to move a little and pours himself a glass of wine. He smiles
to Tella and Talisha but keeps watching Kichevio.

Shoshana begins to giggle real soft like. "Talene, he's just one person.
And what's wrong with his eyes?" the baker leans to the side, trying to get
a good look. "He's nice looking....but I can't see his eyes still..."

Tella smiles, leaning back in her chair as she plucks at the wherry, poping
a few bits into her mouth. "Thank you." Regarding the woman's outfit, she
returns, "As is yours."

Elie nods her head, an affirmative to both questions; she pauses, spoon in
sorbet, to answer. "Yes'm. My name's Elie. I've lived here for about a
Turn, and I remember seeing you before. Weren't you at the.. the fish
cleaning event?"

Servers emerge from the kitchens once more to replace rapidly-emptying
platters and bowls of food with full ones. One hapless girl trips on a
chair leg and her armload of empty dishes goes flying to shatter on the
floor, much to the amusement of passersby. A sour-faced assistant headwoman
comes to the girl's rescue, glaring at the snickering onlookers and
stooping to help clean up the mess.

Langley strides in from the tunnel to the bowl.

Lysseth> Kerellen nods. "I guess you're right. I'm just...not good at that."

Tarlo smiles back to Elie belatedly. "Hello," she says cheerfully. "Sorry,
was rapt over the chowder."

"It's good, isn't it?" Elie says, glancing down to admire her own selection
of food. "Everything's so delicious! I wish we could have a feast like this
every sevenday."

Talene shrugs helplessly, "I just don't like them," she says, with a slight
pout. She puts down her wine, and takes another few bites of her wherry.
"Did you make the wherry?"

Lysseth> Kerellen smiles wanly. "I suppose." She stares out over the bowl.
"Maybe in a minutes."

"Excuse me.." Talisha takes up her sweetroll again, smiling pleasantly to
Tella and F'tan before getting up from her chair. She picks up a fold of
her dress--just enough so it won't drag--and walks over to where the
Telgari sit. *Flump* she drops into a chair.

Unwrapping a sweater from her person in such a way as to thoroughly divulge
just how hateful she's feeling about a 'Reaches autumn, Langley still
manages to preserve her dignity upon her entrance. And dignity, as we all
know, is a fleeting thing when entering a room which holds no familiar
face, no quick greeting. "I knew this was a bad idea," is the girl's
distasteful opening remark.

F'tan shakes his head slowly and looks up at Tella. "So how is the lovely
Ysyth today?" He blinks while watching Tella closer. "You look great in
this dress."

Kassima sets her fork down to raise and waggle one finger. "Kassima,
Kassima. Never ma'am; that implies age or respectability, and while I know
I'm getting closer to the former, 'tis never a joy t'be reminded!" A merry
wink takes any sting out of the words. "'Twas indeed," she confirms.
"Wasn't that wonderful? I've nay had such fun with a fish in Turns. A
pleasure t'meet you." She splits a grin between Tarlo and Elie then.
"Little wonder; 'tis magnificent stuff... have you tried any, Talisha?
Chowder, I mean."

Shoshana shrugs, a small smile on her face. "Alright then..." she peers at
the wherry on her friends plate and nods, "I did...did it turn out
alright?" she asks anxiously. Tal's her tester after all.

Kichevio samples the chowder, and mock-swoons backward. "Yep, we _have_ to
steal this recipe for Pierron. And for the rest of the Weyr."

Tarlo grins. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. I'm Tarlo, Cariath's rider." she
offers to Elie.

Tarlo adds, "That's a really pretty dress."

Kallrina finishes her cowder and goes an gets a glass of wine, still
looking around the room.

Mouse pokes at her food. "Tella, I'm going to get some wine; do you want
some?"

Talene nods to Shoshana, "I like it." She cocks her head towards the crowd,
"I've heard more about the chowder though." She takes another bite of
wherry, picking up her glass and taking a small sip.

Divya says, "Shoshana did a very good job with the food tonight. She should
get promoted soon!"

Elie beams at Tarlo. "Oh, thank you! I found it in stores, and fixed it up
myself-- I'm really pleased with how it turned out."

Tella nods to Talisha, her lips curved in a light smile. And then as F'tan
speaks, she looks back to him, the smile spreading a bit. "She's bored,
actually. Sulking at the moment." Looking from her empty wineglass back to
Mouse, she smiles, nodding. "Yes, please." Then to F'tan, she raises a
brow, chuckling lightly. "Well, I'm glad I don't look horrible." She winks.

Having completed their first set, the harpers bustle to put away their
instruments and move the chairs off the platform, each one eager to be the
first to finish the task and join the food line.

Tarlo smiles. "Do you like doing that? Working with clothes?"

Talisha pokes her finger into the middle of her sweetroll, then licks off
the sticky goop before shaking her head to Kassi. "Mm. And nope, but
everybodies been raving about it so far. Is it good?" her nose scrunches,
and she looks from one persons bowl to the other. "I supose I should eat
something other than sweets. Hello there." she smiles at Elie.

Picking a moment at the skirt of her dress, Langley pulls of a nice
expression of irritation, too. Someone apparently isn't so thrilled about
being here. She hails the very first worker she can find, regardless of how
laden the person might be, and says in a rather demanding little tone,
"Where will I sit?" Met with only a shrug, she scoffs, sighs, and starts
trolling for an empty seat somewhere... anywhere...

Elie shrugs her shoulders indifferently, nodding and replying "Hi," to
Talisha. "I work in the water caverns here," she explains to Tarlo, "doing
the laundry-- and when Emilly's got a whole lot of mending to do, I help
her sometimes. And I'm learning how to embroider finework. I wasn't any
good at it at first, but I'm getting better."

Kassima asks Kichevio, "Think you Keara would be willing t'make this?
Without putting aught pink or frilly in it?" Pink and frilly chowder, yum
yum. "I'm nay much a one for fish, but chowder's always been an exception.
'Tis absolutely fabulous, so if'n you want any you should probably get it
a'fore 'tis all gone away... shells, I wonder if'n seconds would be too
rude of me?" She considers her bowl, the pot, her bowl, the pot. "Shoshana,
Divya? I'm nay thinking I know anyone of that name--will you pass along
m'thanks and compliments?"

Mouse gets up without a word and heads for the drinks. Knowing nothing
about them, she simply grabs the first vintage she can find, fills two cups
of it, and brings it back, ignorant of both the strength and quality.

Shoshana smiles and then glances at the table full of food. "Yes the
chowder came out surprisingly well. Found the recipe in the files, fairly
simple actually." but lets not get her started on baker tricks. Hearing
Divya she gives a small embarresed smile, ducking her head. "So did I miss
anything interesting before I got here Tal?"

A gaggle of harper apprentices finally joins the food line, followed by a
few stragglers here and there, talking and giggling loudly and jostling
each other for position. One smaller boy gets shoved out of line completely
and goes sprawling on his stomach with a yell of protest.

Kichevio tries to picture pink and/or frilly chowder, succeeds, and
shudders. "Kea could probably make it, and I promise to hide all the pink
ingredients beforehand."

Tarlo nods. "Learning anything new is hard at first, but if you've a real
knack for it, you'll pick it up quick. And if you get really good, you can
start experimenting, trying different colors and such. It's a lot of fun."

Divya nods and says, "She's our newest Baker apprentice here, and she
planned tonight's menu." After another couple of bites she asks, "Pink and
frilly? What kind of Baker is she?"

Tella looks towards Mouse, "Thanks." And then eyeing the wine, she takes a
sip, wrinklin her nose, making a strange face. And then she forces a smile.
"Thanks," she says again.

Tarlo blinks, hearing 'pink' 'frilly' and 'chowder'. She shudders.

Mouse takes a sip as well, and apparently finding nothing wrong with it,
sips again. "It's okay."

"*Bless* you," Kassi mutters fervently. "Bless you. Nay that methinks she
*would* put aught weird in it, but after the teacups... who can be sure?"
Glancing towards Tarlo, the greenrider suggests, "Could you explain the
teacups to Divya, Tarlo? I don't think I *could*. But 'twere your idea,
I've heard."

"Pink and frilly in chowder?" Talisha's nose scrunches even more, and she
gets up after a moment for some of that much-talked-about chowder. She
ladles some into a small bowl, then plops herself back down at the table.
Dipping her spoon in, she takes a small bite--"Teacups?"

F'tan smiles widely. "You're terribly pretty tonight, Tella." He takes
another sip of his wine.

Lysseth> Kerellen sighs and turns back towards the entrance to the living
cavern. "Well...here goes." She gives the dragons one last smile and heads
on in.

Kerellen walks into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Kichevio searches for words to describe Keara. "She's...well, she's...she's
the kind of Baker who knows many alternative uses for whipped cream."
There, that was polite enough for mixed company. "And yes, the teacups
were..." Words fail her again.

Kallrina sighs softly.

Talene shakes her head, "Nothing much that I've seen." She finishes off her
wherry, swirling it around in the juices. She moves onto her great helping
of sorbet, small bites taken here and there as she watches the crowd.

Tella nods in agreement, though she doesn't take another sip. She then
looks back towards F'tan, blinking slightly in surprise, though her lips
curve in a smile. Eyeing his wine, "Think you should have any more of that?"

Elie smiles shyly at Tarlo. "Well, it can be kind of fun sometimes. Before
I came here I didn't know how to do anything besides basic mending. It's
nice to get the chance to learn new stuff."

In an act that can only be classified as desperation, Langley squashes the
last of that precious dignity, elbows her way passed a gaggle of Harpers
with a sniff of distaste, and all but presents herself at Mouse's table. "I
know you're from Ista. I've seen you there." Oh. And don't forget, "Hello."

Shoshana bites back a laugh as she hears the conversation about the
craftsecond. It's really not good to laugh at things about your own
craftsecond. The word teacups reaches her ears and she bites back another
laugh. Oh dear...A nod to Talene, and then another peer at the table. Is it
missing anything? She's all anxious.

Elya reaches the Harpers as the group of apprentices are dismissed to eat.
She joins a journeyman and a senior apprentice, who take out their own
instruments and begin tuning.

Divya asks, "What about the teacups?"

Kerellen slides back into the seat she'd abandoned, and watches the crowd.

Tarlo says with a pout, "The teacups were a stroke of genius."

Shoshana spots the other baker come in again and murmurs, "I'll be right
back Tal." and hurries over. "Hello." she says softly when she gets to her
chair. More teacup discussion can be heard and she just shakes her head. Oy.

F'tan keeps smiling and finishes his glass. "It's empty now."

Cailin strolls in from the tunnel to the bowl.

Kallrina sips her wine as her eyes run over the crowd of people

Kerellen blinks. "I...hello." She smiles tenatively.

Kassima insists, "The teacups were *perverse*." Turning to the others, she
tries to explain, "Keara was going to a Craft meeting, y'see, or so someone
told me, and she wore... well... teacups...." She makes vague gestures to
suggest precisely *where* Keara wore the teacups, looking faintly
embarrassed. "On her chest. And then she did something with *saucers*...."

S'rist strolls in from the tunnel to the bowl.

Mouse's head turns to blink at Langley in surprise, as the assistant
headwoman flushes. "Um - I'm from Ista - who are you?" Apparently she's so
flustered that her memory's failing her. "Erm - I'm sorry."

S'rist slips in, mumbling something about work never being done, as he goes
to grab himself a quick plate of food.

Divya is flabbergasted for a moment. Then the obvious question bursts out:
"Didn't they chafe when she walked?"

Langley's expression implies the 'you should be' that the girl leaves
unsaid. Haughty one, this girl. "Langley, of course. I do a little work in
the infirmary now and then." A *very* little work. "You're Mouse, aren't
you? I've heard about you. Can't I sit here?"

The Harpers finish tuning and take their seats. The journeyman counts off,
and with a grin they start playing a lively dance tune, one on gitar, one
on pipes and the third on a small hand drum.

Shoshana looks over at Kassima and nods faintly, "Yeah that's about right."
she mutters. She looks at Divya in surprise, that very question was asked
at the meeting. But she turns her attention back to Kerellen, "Hi...are you
a new apprentice?" she asks curiously, pulling up a chair.

Kichevio murmurs, "I think she padded them..." before deciding that maybe
she shouldn't speculate too much.

F'tan nods politely to the Weyrleader.

Kallrina smiles at S'rist. "G'eve Sir,"

Kerellen nods. "I just joined the Hall a few days ago. I'm from, well, near
here, actually, but I don't see any of my family."

Tarlo continues to pout. "Well, I did the best with what I had handy..."

Tella chuckles lightly, glancing to the empty glass. "Well, I think it's a
good thing, that." Looking back up to the brownrider's face, she offers a
light smile. Then hearing the music, she asks, "Hmm.. Want to dance later?"
The later's for the fact that no one's dancing now.

S'rist finds himself a seat over near what is normally his wings table, but
seems to have been taken over by some of the out of weyr guests. He gives a
smile and nod to those that notice him as he sets into his dinner in a hurry.

Elie twists around in her chair to look toward the harpers as she hears the
change in the music. "Oooh, it sounds like the dancing is going to start!"
She makes no move to leave her seat, though, waiting for someone /else/--
or better yet, several someone elses-- to be the first to make use of the
cleared space in the center of the room.

F'tan blinks. "Me?..Us? Dancing? Well...I'm not sure.."

Tarlo says "I mean, do you think it was easy, coming up with ways to string
the teacups so they didn't just fly off? But the dish towel loin cloth,
that was really clever of me. The saucers were an afterthought, really."

Talisha takes another mouthful of the chowder, then yawns loudly. "Oh. I
think I might get back and catch some extra sleep before sweeps in the
morning." she murmurs, pushing her bowl into the middle of the table. "If
anyone wants the rest of my chowder--I hardly touched it." she smiles at
those here, then wanders out to the bowl.

Jacera smiles and waves to S'rist as he enters. "Good evening, your
Weyrleadership."

Cailin quietly slips in looking a bit lost. She stands on her tippy toes
and looks for any one she knows, then shrugs and quickly gets herself a bit
of the rapidly disapering food.

Mouse drinks the entire cup of wine and gets up to refill it, as much to
avoid looking at Langley as anything else. "I am - sit..." She nods. "Er -
yes, sit, don't want to leave anyone out."

Elie's attention is drawn back to the conversation at the table and she
peers quizzically at Tarlo, asking bluntly, "What are you talking about?"

Tella chuckles, her lips curling to a challenge. "Why... are you afraid?"

S'rist smiles, "Evening Jace, everything running well tonight I hope?"

Talisha strides outside to the bowl.

"I don't know!" Kassi near-wails. "I've never worn teacups!" Now there's a
surprise. "But I'd think they'd be *cold*, for one, and for another--what
did she do when she was done with 'em? Just put 'em back on the rack for
someone t'drink from? I'll never be able t'drink tea at Telgar again." That
pout of Tarlo's wins a grimace. "Aye, well... 'twas actually ingenious, in
a warped and twisted way. I'm nay debating that. 'Tis that anyone would
want t'wear cups and a loin cloth that bothers me more." She pauses to
salute the Weyrleader, and wave after Talisha, before asking, "Dancing? An
excuse t'stay seated, then. I've never been able t'dance worth a shard."

Shoshana gives Kerellen a friendly smile, "I see...well I'm Shoshana. Also
from the bakers. Nice to meet you...thought I heard of some new
apprentices, wasn't ssure though."

F'tan shakes his head. "Not really. It's just that..."

Talene blows at her hair as she finishes off the sorbet, placing her plate
down and taking up her wine, which is almost gone. She gathers her wits
together visibly and heads into the crowd and, of course, bumping into the
Tillekian boy almost immediately. She blushes and swallows, with a small
smile. "May I have this dance?" He asks, but of course she refuses, shaking
her head vehemently. The boy takes her hand and leads her out into the
dancing floor anyways, taking her refusal for just a tease, as the girl,
Talene, looks for anyone to help her out....Please?

Jacera grins and nods. "Seems to be going quite well tonight so far."

Kerellen nods. "I'm Kerellen." Her eyes widen at the teacup talk. "She wore
teacups?"

Kallrina refills her wine glass, and joins Jacera and the weyrleader at the
table

Tella chuckles lightly, raising to her feet. "That what?" A brow raises,
hands resting on her hips.

Langley does sit, very much like she owned the seat and didn't just happen
upon it by accident. "Thank you," she adds with an effusion of charming
manners, favoring the Mouse with a dimpled smile. "You will introduce me
around when you get back, right?" she adds, leaning back in the newly
acquired seat (utterly at odds with her decorum) to call after Mouse's
refill retrieval.

From Kallrina's shoulder, Belle tugs on a ribbon and chirps as if to say "I
am doing nothing wrong" when her pet gives her a look that look.

Tarlo explains to Elie, "The Baker Craftsecond, Keara, likes to wear daring
clothing to her craft meetings. And well, one day she'd forgotten about a
meeting and hadn't had anything made. I was a Weaver student before I was a
rider, so she came to me with a couple of teacups, some saucers, and a dish
towel and asked me to make a costume for her." she grins. "So I did."

F'tan takes a deep breath. "Well I'm afaraid you'll have to teach me..." He
says, looking at Tella with some insurance in his eyes.

A couple begin dancing to the lively tune as the Harpers play cheerfully.
The music drifts over the crowd, just loud enough to be enticing without
drowning out conversation.

Shoshana shifts her attention around the room as the dancing starts.
Spotting Talene she grins widely, 'Go for it.' she mouthes. At Kerellen's
expression she laughs softly, "She did." teacups, saucers and a pink dish
towel. "It was at the last craftmeeting."

Jacera smiles at Kallrina. "How are you and Perran faring?"

Tella grins, moving one hand to guesture to the dance floor. "I'd love to.
Shall we?"

Elie's eyes go wide, and then, at the conclusion of Tarlo's explanation,
she starts to giggle helplessly. It's several minutes before she has
control of herself again.

Divya laughs and says, "That reminds me of some of Tierigal's outfits. I
met him when he was assigned to the Harper/Healer Hall area. He's the first
man I ever saw in a dress."

Kichevio watches the couples dancing with a smile, chuckling softly at the
Saga of Keara.

Kerellen blushes and stifles a laugh. "I...I could almost picture this."

Mouse plops back into her seat, across from Langley. "Um - to who?" she
inquires, head ducked. "Who do I have to talk to?"

F'tan bows. "i follow you."

The two dance, Talene and the boy from Tillek. He's handsome, but as they
dance, she just can't stop looking at his eyes, inspecting 'em. What is
wrong with them? She moves gracefully, letting the boy guide her, but, when
she isn't looking at his eyes, she's trying to catch the attention of
anyone that can save her.

Kallrina smiles shyly. "Alright, I was gone for so long, tis hard fer us to
get back into a daily routine, we still have much plaining to do.

Tella grins, nodding as she turns around and heads for the dance floor.
Once there, she turns to wait on the brownrider, toe tapping to the music
in its wherhide confines.

Kassima probably shouldn't ask, and her expression suggests that she
*knows* she probably shouldn't ask, but being Kassi, she asks: "Tierigal?
Isn't he the male Baker who's rumored t'be Keara's equal in... ah...
Kearaness?"

Tarlo explains, she wanted me to just loop twine around the handles, and
drape them over her breasts, but then they'd just fly right off. So I did
an extra back string too, sort of made it a bikini, crossing looping the
top twine piece for extra support. And then with some strips of hide and
the saucers I made a hip band, and used the dish cloth as a loin cloth."
She grins. "I confess, it's one of my more 'racy' designs."

A portly young man with a Tillek knot and an insufferable smirk on his face
strides past Talene and her dance partner, reaching out to punch his fellow
resident on the shoulder as he goes by. "Way to go!" he congratulates the
other boy.

S'rist just nods a bit to the conversations around him, not really
following very well as he makes quick work of his food, an eye over towards
the dancing that's already started up.

Langley replies with a cheerful smile and an encompassing gesture.
"Everyone. Everyone that you know." She somehow manages to imply that Mouse
ought well know the entire population of this busy cavern. "Like... those
people over there, talking about the Baker wearing teacups. They seem like
a lively bunch to get to know."

F'tan comes closer to Tella and lifts his hands. He lifts them but doesn't
seems to know what to do with them. He smiles looking at Tella for some help.

Elie finally has managed to cease her giggles, but the price is poor
control of her facial expressions, which she's desperately trying to calm.
She knits her brows, glancing at Kassima. "Kearaness?"

Divya grins and says, "it sounds like that, yes. He's definitely, uh,
flamboyant. In clothing and attitude. He used to try once a sevenday or so
to seduce me, back when I was an apprentice."

A broad smile, "It was...interesting." Shoshana shakes her head. It sort of
gives an idea of what the craft is like. Talene is seen again and Shoshana
smiles at her, 'cute couple' she mouthes. So supportive of her friends is she.

"I've never met Tierigal," Kichevio contributes. "But I've heard so
much...Kea used to describe him in...glowing detail."

The first song comes to an end with a flourish and the harpers switch
instruments, tossing them to the Harper on the left with a grin, and break
into a new song, equally lively.

Tella looks him up and down for a moment before taking his hands in hers.
She rests one of his hands on her hip before putting hers on his shoulder.
With a grin, she begins to twirl playfully around the floor, obviously
leading. What an.. interesting way to dance.

Cailin looks around and sits close to a group of girls near her age.

Kassima suggests in a droll tone, "Mayhaps that'll be what she wears to the
Masquerade? Only then everyone would know 'tis her, so it might nay work
well... oh, well, I don't want t'say lechery," she explains, a bit
sheepish. "Or lasciviousness, because Keara's nay really the *slimy* sort
of promiscuous, you know. She's a good sort of person, just... eager? Does
that work? I don't know about this Tierigal, but he sounds like a
character. Didn't he know Apprentices are off-limits?"

Tarlo chuckles to Kassima. "Flirtacious?" she suggests.

F'tan looks closely at Tella's feet and slowly takes the lead, twirling and
following the rythm. "I think I got it."

Talene frowns and mutters under her breath, looking piteously out for Elie,
Shoshana, anybody! She, as polite as can be, continues the dance with a
forced smile on her face. She suffers it all, even as the young boy
obviously starts to flirt heavily. Talene just dips her head graciously and
acts the young lady, watching for a chance when she can escape.

Divya grins and says, "He didn't care. He just cared that I was a pretty
girl. He kept trying every chance he got as long as I lived there."

S'rist gets up to get himself a second glass of wine, this one to sip more
than to go with his meal.

Elie notices Talene out on the dance floor, but the other girl's comfort
escapes her; Elie's too busy being jealous to realize that Talene doesn't
really /want/ to dance with him. She turns back to listen to the
conversation at the table, frowning slightly, not offering any further
contribution herself.

Mouse dips her head, trying to see how many /she/ knows. "That's - um -
Tella!" she says, pointing out a dancer that she knows. "And F'tan.
And...and..." Uh oh. "That's Serisa," she adds, gesturing toward a tall
serving girl. "I - er - that's all I know,"

Kerellen's eyes wander about over the crowd. "If I tried to dance, I'd fall
on my nose," she mutters.

"Flirtatious," Kassi agrees, waggling her fork. "That's the word.
Flirtatious and willing t'follow up on flirtation... and methinks I'm glad
this man isn't at Telgar, Divya. He might start flirting with one of
m'daughters, and then I'd have t'castrate him and Ofira would probably
write me a stern letter."

Several couples are now twirling about on the dance floor as the Harpers play.

Kallrina taps her foot as she listens to the lively music.

Tella grins as he takes over, continuing to dance to the music, though she
begins to move a bit more fluidly now that she's the one being led. The
dance causes her to kick up the flaps of her skirt up, them occasionaly
flicking the ankles of a dancer, gaining a murmur of protest.

Tarlo murmurs, "They don't call her the Emasculator for nothing..."

Elie's eyes go wide at that comment from Kassima and she stares at the
greenrider, trying to decide whether to take it seriously or not.

Kichevio sips her wine, and looks far too innocent. "I could distract him,
for Kay and Khari's sake," she suggests. Oh, the sacrifice...

Shoshana grins at Talene, and nods in agreement with Kerellen, "I know, me
too. Never learned to dance...come with me a moment?" she just /has/ to go
talk to Talene....people can talk while they dance right? but she doesn't
want to leave Kerellen alone, she looks kind of lost and lonely.

Frowning at her newly adopted companion, Langley says in a rather pedantic
way, "You don't know very many people, Mouse. Let's go and meet some other
ones. Look, there's the Weyrleader over there. Let's go over and meet him."
She even holds out a hand to Mouse, trying to gentle her own commandeering
mannerisms in a way.

Kerellen glances between Shoshana and Talene, then nods. "Sure." She
gathers up the long skirts of her dress and stands.

S'rist looks up from his dinner seeing a group of people headed his way, so
he sets down his glass of wine, certain that a round of introductions is
about to hit him.

Cailin smiles tenitivly at those around her, and tries to follow the
precedings with wide eyes.

Kassima, picking up her cider mug, slants a sidelong wink to Tarlo. "They
flatter me," she murmurs. "Whomever they are. *The* Emasculator, now... I
like that." She would. Her eyes are wide with innocence as she turns them
on Elie--what, what?--before casting a look of decided amusement Kichevio's
way. "That would be *too* good of you," she drawls, "and I know what a
sacrifice you'd find it t'be."

Talene's smile is still there, but fading fast. The young boy is telling
jokes to her now, leaning forward to get closer. She's trying her damn
hardest to laugh and joke and pretend she's having a good time, but at the
sight of Shoshana coming to save her, the girl is barely able to contain
herself. Please becoming to save her, her eyes beg, please!

Divya grins and says, "Excuse me, I see a lost person that needs help." She
rises and makes her way over to Cailin.

Mouse seems unwilling to complain with being dragged along after, though
she finishes that glass as well and leaves it behind, empty. "Do I have
to?" she mumbles, barely intelligably. A glance is thrown at the wine, in
the hopes that if she's drinking, she won't be dragged around.

Elie clears her throat nervously and scrapes her chair away from the table,
standing. "Ah, excuse me..." she murmers. "I'll be back." And with that,
she darts off toward the lower caverns.

Kichevio half-bows to Kassi. "Anything for my Noble Wingleaders," she says
sweetly.

Shoshana grins and threds her way through the crowd, glancing behind her to
make sure Ellen's still behind her. Upon reaching Talene she smiles
sweetly, "Having fun?" she asks quietly. She smiles at the young man her
friends dancing with, "Don't mind me, I don't want to interrupt you...I
just want Talene to meet Kerellen, she's from the bakers too. Kerellen,
this is Talene. Don't let me stop your dancing though..." is she mean or what?

Kerellen grins at Talene, giving Shoshana a wink. "Well met, Talene."

Elie wanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Nodding to underscore her adament stride, Langley says, "You do. It's for
your own good, Mouse. Really." And, dodging a few people along the way with
questionable but functional crowd navigation skills, the red head makes it
to S'rist's table at long last - hopefully with Mouse in tow. Here comes
the polished curtsey (such company manners!). "Hello, Weyrleader. I'm
Langley from Ista Weyr, and this is Mouse."

Divya walks up to Cailin and says, "Welcome to the nut house known as High
Reaches! I'm Divya, one of the riders here. Can I help you out somehow?"

F'tan continues to dance, a smile on his face. After a short moment, the
smile disappears and he looks suddenly pale. He leads Tella near a chair
and puts on hand on his forehead.

Kallrina pales as a drunken seacrafter askes her to dance.

S'rist smiles and offers his hand, "Well met Langley, Mouse, I'm S'rist,
Dzurath's rider." He gestures, "Won't you sit and join the me for a glass?"
He offers from the wineskin he has.

Kassima nods to Divya, and after Elie, though the latter's departure leaves
her looking somewhat dismayed. "You don't think I frightened her?
'Twouldn't really castrate this man, after all. I mean, I don't even know
him." She scoops her spoon through the softening sorbet, and salutes
Kichevio with the sucrose-laden result. "You're ever too good t'me,
Wingrider mine."

Canus wanders into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Talene immediately breaks it off with the boy, nearly pushing him aside and
gushing over Kerellan, "Well met!" Is shouted, as she extends a hand. "I'm
Talene. How are you? You having fun here? Did you try the sorbet? I think
it's excellant." The young boy does not seem happy, as he sense that his
'prey' is going to get away. Talene starts leading the two into the crowd,
carefully, carefully...

The Harpers swing from the lively dance tune into a moderately paced reel.
The journeyman stands up, grabbing a larger drum, and begins beating out a
solid heavy beat.

Elie strolls into the cavern from the lower caverns.

F'tan spots Kichevio and shakes his head, frowning.

Tella sends a worried look to F'tan, frowning as she looks at his pale
face. "Are you okay?"

Tarlo grins. "I'm sure she just had an errand." she reassures Kassima and
sits sipping her wine, looking torwards the origin of the drum beats. "Ooh.
I want to dance." she says with a sigh.

Canus wanders into the cavern at a leisurely pace and looks about the
cavern with a grin. He nods both to those he knows and those he doesn't

Elie comes back in from the lower caverns, tugging at her dress, and moves
toward the group of Telgar riders once again. "Sorry about that," she says,
smiling, although she makes sure to sit farther away from Kassima than she
was before.

From Kallrina's shoulder, Belle chirps angrly at the man distressing her
pet, and croons as he stumbles away. The green looks pleased as she preens.

Mouse manages to stay close enough to take advantage of Langley's
crowd-clearing skills. "Er - um - hello, Weyrleader. I can," she says.
"Sit, I mean."

Cailin smiles at the tall young woman that has come to meet her. "Hi, I'm
Cailin, I came with a few of my fellow herders but they seem to have
vanished in the crowd..." she glances around and back to Divya, "I'm very
pleased to meet you."

"I guess wine and dance is too much for me. I'm not used to..." F'tan
answers tella with a grimace. "I need some fresh air...Please excuse
me...I'm sorry."

Kerellen smiles. "Do you live here at High Reaches? My family is from a
small hold near here." She pusts one hand on Talene's shoulder and walks
her further from the lad.

Tella nods, patting his shoulders. "Of course.. Go ahead."

Shoshana gives Talene's ex-dance partner a little smile, "I'm sorry that
that drove her away...maybe she'll come back..." the last is murmured. But
Sho wouldn't be /that/ cruel to hook Tal into comeing back...would she? No.
She trots a little to catch up to the other two, "Was he /so/ awful
Talene?" she whispers.

S'rist smiles and pours up two glasses more, "Good, so have you two enjoyed
the harvest festival so far?"

Kallrina scrithces her green and smiles at the Wery leader sitting to her
left. "and people wonder why I keep her around.

Canus wanders throught the crowded room until he finds himself a mug of
klah. He looks at all the smiling faces and manages a broad one himself.

S'rist glances over towards Kallrina and chuckles, "So she serves as a good
chaperone, does she?"

Langley avails herself of the seat very promptly. "Thank you, S'rist." She
takes full advantage of license to exchange title for name. "I just got
here, but Mouse has been here for a while, haven't you, Mouse?" The very
portrait of a lady, she settles herself with her hands folded to a perfect
little clasp on the table.

Kassima inquires, tipping her head, "Why don't you, then? If'n you can, and
like to... Elie," she then notes, shaking her head, "*'twas* being
facetious, I promise. Well... mostly."

Divya chuckles and says, "We've got quite a crowd tonight, more than we
expected. Can I get you someting to eat or drink? Or help you in some other
way?

F'tan walks outside to the bowl.

Talene nods, "I'm a resident here, now. This is my home." She tusn to
Shoshana and groans, "He was! All those jokes and his breath and....ugh..."
She covers her face with her hands, in an attempt to hide maybe?

Elie doesn't look much relieved by this assurance from Kassima. "What do
you mean, ah.. 'mostly'?" she asks.

Kallrina smiles warmly. "Aye S'rist, when I want her to she does that Sir.

Tella watches F'tan leave with a worried frown, staying where she is for a
long moment before turning to search the crowd once more. With a sigh, she
makes her way towards Mouse. Once there, she looks from face to face with a
light smile. "Looks like my dance ended sooner than I thought it would. To
Mouse, "Mind if I join you?"

Canus nods over towards Kassima and the rest of the Telgar crew and heads
in that general direction slowly.

Kichevio grins at Elie. "Ask her that again when she's proddy, and the
answer might be a _little_ different."

Shoshana laughs quietly, "You poor thing, such trauma." she teases gently.
She tilts her head to get a better look at Kerellen, "Are you posted
anywhere yet?" she asks curiously.

Tarlo chuckles, rising. "Alright, I will." she grins, taking a moment to
scope the area, and finds an sweet bluerider willing to accomodate her. The
two pair off and start dancing to the drumbeats, trying to outdo each other
with intricate, made up steps that are as often more silly then not.

Langley smiles over at the woman with her green firelizard and delights to
inform, "I've left my gold at home. She's *such* a bothersome thing, after
all, and I hate trying to take her places. She's horribly misbehaved." She
takes the recently poured glass without hesitation, though the keen might
note she doesn't drink right away.

Mouse plops into the seat, again fixing her dress. "Erm - yes, I've been
here for a while, I came with Tella - Tella!" she says louder, looking up
at the rider. "Sit! You can have my seat..."

"Mostly in that 'twouldn't really castrate a man," Kassi clarifies. "Or at
least nay this one. But I'd *threaten* t'do so without qualm, if'n he
started leering at m'daughters. And if'n he happened t'*think* I meant it,
why, so much the better--Canus, g'deve!" she calls, waving him over. "You
just missed out; Tarlo's gone off t'dance with a bluerider, else you
might've gotten t'step a measure with her."

Kerellen shakes her head. "No...I'm still at the Bakercraft hall." She
grins. "Though I think they're thinking of posting me at Igen, what with
all of the errands I've run there lately."

Cailin smiles brightly at the offer, "Oh thank you but I guess I'm fine. I
just hadn't expected such a crowd." she blushes a little "My home Hold is
quite small so I'm not use to crowds of strangers."

Kallrina smiles softly. "Belle here is very well behaved. Most of the time
people don't even know she's around.

Elie ohs. "I.. I suppose if you wouldn't /really/ do it.." she starts to
say, tentatively, but then breaks off as Kassima greets the newcomer. She
glances up and gives him a shy smile, then looks down at the table.

The music threads through the crowd, setting toes to tapping and heads
bobbing. Another couple, this one a pair of old Aunties, get up to dance,
cackling.

Tella shakes her head, waving a hand in protest. "No, of course not. You
/were/ here first after all." She winks at the woman, hands moving to rest
on her hips in a habbit. "Hmm.. What were you up to while I was dancing?"
She glances to the others at the table as if for the first time, nodding a
hello.

Canus chuckles at Kassima, "Now, I've never been able to dance a step."

Talene peeks out from under her hands to look at Shoshana. "I know! The
trauma!" She appears quite serious, but after a few moments she peeks out
from her hands, uncovering her face. "I'm going to go get some wine." She
glances out amongst the crowd, "I'll stay safe." She says with a nudge as
she sneaks off into the crowd, using it as a coverage as she heads towards
the serving table for a new glass of wine.

Kallrina smiles in thanks as a drudge fills her wine glass.

Divya grins and says, "As busy as this is, it's still not as bad as during
a hatching. Which Hold are you from?"

S'rist smiles a bit as he sits back again, taking a sip of his wine and
looking over at those dancing. He gives a nod to those that walk up to the
table.

Shoshana nods, "Maybe...you never know. I can't really say I expected going
here though." very shocking. She begins to laugh at Talene's actions,
"Should've given her my apron to hide under." she mutters. "You like the
craft so far though I take it?"

Kassima turns back in time to catch that shy smile, and gives the younger
woman a sympathetic grin. "This is Canus, by the by," she introduces. "He
lives at Telgar--again, now; weren't you gone for a time, Canus? And this
is Elie, a fine young woman who was kind enough t'invite me t'loot the food
table earlier. You should do the same, if'n there's aught left. The fare's
magnificent."

Kerellen nods enthusiastically. "Very much. I've always loved cooking and
helping out in the kitchens..." she blushes. "Well...I liked bossing the
drudges around, even when I was little."

Kassima then sticks her tongue out at Kichevio, crossing her eyes too for
good measure. "I've never hurt a living soul when proddy!" Pause. "Living
*human* soul." Another pause. "The marks on Mart's neck did go away
eventually."

Mouse stays seated, then. "All right," she says, filling her own wine
glass. "I've not been doing much."

Canus smiles, "Good to meet you Elie." He looks back to Kassi, "Yes, been
doing a bit of travelling the last few Turns, never to the Reaches tho...."

Elie glances up and offers Canus another smile, this one less tentatively.
"Hello," she says to him. "I think there should be some food left-- I saw
them bringing more out earlier. If you're hungry," she appends hastily.

Cailin looks surprised, "More people than this? Oh my. I'm from High
Plateau Hold, though now I'm an apprentice in the Beastcraft, and live at
the Crafthall." she shrugs.

Kichevio follows that to its logical (?) conclusion. "So Mart's not human?"

Canus turns back to Elie, "I thank you for the offer but I ate not too long
ago. You are a thoughtful host."

Tella slips into the seat beside her, leaning back in the chair as she
crosses her legs under the table. With a light sigh, she looks back to the
dance floor. "Hmm.. You should be up dancing, you know."

"We should all be so lucky," says Langley with a halfway wry smile at
Kallrina. "I try and try, and all she does is squawk and squawk." Sighing
as if put upon, she then leans over slightly toward Mouse to add, "Don't
run away and leave me here all by myself? There's a dear." Then, toward
S'rist, "We aren't interrupting your privacy here, are we?"

Elie flushes, looking self-conscious. "Well, I'm not really a host," she
hastens to say.

Talene retrieves herself a glass of wine, but the same boy catches sight of
her there, all but running through the crowd to get her. She walks away
calmly, into the crowd, heading back over to Shoshana and trying not to
attract any attention.

The journeyman harper peers over the crowd as the reel comes to an end. He
nods to Elya, who picks up a wooden flute and counts off. She starts
playing a slow, softer tune, and smiles as she plays as the couples begin
slow-dancing.

Shoshana chuckles, "I liked to help 'round the kitchens too." but it's
boring to go into the long aspects of 'why did /you/ become a baker??'
Talene is given a sidelong glance, "Hiding again?" she asks, trying not to
move her lips. Let's play Talene's not really here!

Tarlo lifts her skirt just a little to try and keep up with the bluerider's
footwork, trying to keep hers just as fancy and laughing breathlessly, "No
fair! I haven't danced in months!" He only laughs, and dances around her,
though it's all in good fun, and less for Tarlo then it is to show off to
his compatriots.

Canus grins, "Even so, you are very thoughtful, and I, for one, appreciate
that aspect in anyone."

Tarlo then stops as the music slows down. "Oh..." she chuckles wearily.

Tella hmphs as she looks to Langley on the other side of Mouse with a
frown. Then looking towards the man she's speaking to, she takes a closer
look. Spying the knot, she looks from Mouse and back. "Hmm.. how about you
two dance?" Her lips curve as she takes ahold of the idea.

Kassima mutters, "*That's* arguable--but nay, I'm afraid he must be. Kena's
certes human, and if'n he weren't human, he and she couldn't have had
Keagan. So there's just nay excuse for him." There's affection in her voice
as she speaks of her old friend, however wickedly she does so. "They're
worth visiting. Particularly when 'tis a lessoning-night--you should've
been here the other night, when they tied up the greenrider and let us chop
heads off fish." Yeeeah. She sure knows how to make it sound appealing, but
her enthusiasm is certainly sincere. She quips to her tablemates, "Tarlo
looks t'be having a good time out there."

Mouse flushes. "I don't dance," she mutters, looking down. "/Ever/."

Tella chuckles, looking back to Mouse. "Nonsence! /Everyone/ can dance. You
just get up there and sway."

Divya says, "I was born and raised here until I had 12 turns, so I'm used
to crowds. The secret to handling it is to talk to a few people and let the
rest kind of ebb and flow around you. If you try to see everything you'll
go nuts."

S'rist takes a sip of his glass and shrugs, "I'm not one to ever force a
dance on someone." He grins over towards Mouse, so she knows she's not
going to get roped into anything.

Kichevio looks like she might steal someone and join the couples dancing,
but then she blinks, makes a face, and stands. "I'm being called away.
Please excuse me...I'm _coming_, Saulith. Honestly."

Langley meets Tella's frown with an utterly transparent smile, company
smile, but chimes in nonetheless, "You really ought to give it a try,
Mouse. You might find out your good at it."

Kichevio walks outside to the bowl.

Canus looks out towards Tarlo to see what exactly Kassima means.

Elie turns to look toward the dance floor, chewing at her lip as she
watches the couples. "Who is that she's dancing with?" she asks the others
at the table.

Talene nods softly to Shoshana, "Hiding," is what she says quietly, taking
a sip of her wine as she watches out for that wretched boy.

Kassima admits after a long look and a nod after Kichevio, "I don't think I
know him. Bluerider, though, by the knot--and rather fancy on his feet."

Mouse corrects, "I /can/ dance. I just /don't/."

Tella wrinkles her nose slightly, looking from the man to Mouse. "Why not?"

Langley says at almost the exact same moment, "Why not?"

Shoshana laughs softly, "We could send me or Kerellen to dance with him."
she suggets, though she winks to both of them to show she's joking. "If
Kerellens as bad as me either of us would cripple him so badly he wouldn't
be able to dance with you." or dance at all period. A smile to Kerellen
shows she's just kidding so the other baker won't take offense.

Tarlo actually offers the young man a polite nod, but gently refuses his
inquiry to slow dance. Laughingly, she promises to get up again should
there be another drum heavy reel and starts to head back to her table, just
as Kassima speaks. "Didn't catch his name." she confesses breathlessly.
"Good dancer, though. Still, I wish K'ran didn't have duties keeping him
away." she collapses into a seat at the table.

Kerellen giggles. "True. I wonder if that would work?" She grins back.

"Who is K'ran?" Elie asks. She's always glad to talk about males.

Canus chuckles softly at Tarlo's comment. "You really are a good dancer."

The gentle tune drifts across the living cavern, lightly caressing everyone
as it passes.

Talene blinks and nods enthusiastically, "Please? That'd be perfect...Good
idea." She glances out through the crowd, spotting a tall fellow. "Maybe
that's him?" And then she's trying to give the bakers a push towards him,
"Goon. He's handsome."

"Indrath's rider," Kassima supplies, flashing Elie a grin. "And her
weyrmate. I never did congratulate you, Tarlo, on your weyrmating--or offer
condolences, whichever; consider 'em expressed now? I assume he knows how
t'dance. It sounds like something he'd be good at."

Cailin nods "Yes I see, that would be senceable." She grins, "Thank you so
much for the advice. I'm afraid I really wasn't ready for this when we
came." she gestures in general to the room.

Divya says, "Let's have a seat and talk for a little while, unless you'd
prefer to join in the dancing?"

Mouse's flush deepens. "Fine, I'll dance, then you'll see why I don't."

Shoshana giggles softly. "Your not serious are you?" she mutters to Tal.
She hadn't been...

Tarlo grins. "It's something women enjoy with a partner, so yes, he's good
at it." Then she quirks, realizing the double entendre of her own
statement, and snickers at herself. "Thank you, Kassi."

Tella grins, something akin to truimph marking her features. "Good." She
looks towards the bronzer, brow raised.

Elie loses interest just as quickly; weyrmated men aren't half as
interesting as available ones, in her mind. She starts to scan the cavern
for likely prospects, trying to catch the eye of any of the partnerless
boys nearby.

Cailin smiles "I think I'd like to sit a bit, we've been travling so much
that it would be nice to just sit for a bit."

Talene considers it, and shakes her head, "No, I'm not. Not unless you
really want to do it." she offers a hopeful look towards the bakers.

Canus chuckles.

S'rist looks back over at the greenrider, wondering just why she's giving
him a look like that.

Kerellen shakes her head. "No, not me. I'm bad at dancing." She glances
around her. "I think I'm going to go outside for some air."

Kassima waggles her eyebrows just a moment to confirm that she picked up
the innuendo. "I'll take your word for it," she decides, laughing. "I'll
take your word... and 'enjoy,' that's subjective. I don't enjoy it, because
I usually end up injuring half the people on the dance floor. And if'n I'm
going t'injure people, I'd rather it be on *purpose*. You're sure you don't
dance, Canus? Elie hasn't gotten t'tread a measure yet, unless I'm mistaken."

Elya strolls outside to the bowl.

Elie shakes her head, not daring to look again at Canus; instead she faces
Kassima. "No'm, I haven't-- not yet," she adds, an upturn in her voice,
hopeful.

Canus sighs not quite reluctantly and turns towards Elie, "Would you like
to dance?"

Elie giggles and flushes, a smile coming to her face. "Certainly, I'd like
that," she says, standing and offering her hand to Canus.

Divya nods and gets herself some wine from the table. "Can I get you
something to drink as well?"

Kerellen weaves through the crowd for the exit.

Kerellen walks outside to the bowl.

Tarlo leans forward and whispers something to Kassima with conspiring
curiousity.

Shoshana twirls a curl around her finger, considering the idea. She waves
to Kerelllen, hmmm hmmm. "I don't know..." she says slowly, her face
serious. But it's not nice to step on peoples toes...

Canus trakes the proffered hand and manages to blush himself as he takes it
and leads Elie to the dance floor.

Tarlo whispers "Do you think it would be appropriate for me to ask S'rist
if he wants to dance? To be polite and such."

Cailin says "Just some Klah please"

Seeing Mouse well cared for, Langley takes this moment to disperse from
company in the most gracious way she can manage. "If you'll excuse me, I
think I'll have a look around. It's not everyday one gets the chance to go
visiting, after all." Folding the sweater about her shoulders, she takes
her glass and goes a-wandering.

The slow tune comes to an end and the harpers strike up another lively
number, this one featuring a great deal of drum-banging from a young
freckled boy with a huge grin on his face. He watches the crowd as he
plays, clearly enjoying himself.

Langley wanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Kassima hides a smile behind her mug as the two head to the dance floor.
"There's m'good deed for the Pass," she murmurs, then leans in to first
listen and then reply to Tarlo.

Elie grins a little sheepishly at Canus. "I'm not the /best/ dancer," she
warns him ahead of time.

Tarlo senses Kassima glances in S'rist's direction before murmuring, "I
don't see why nay, if'n you wish to; it must be terribly boring t'be
Weyrleader at things like this, after all. A turn around the floor might
make his evening."

Tella looks towards Langley, nodding in her direction, glancing towards the
harpers as they strike up another tune, a grin curving her lips. Time to
find /herself/ a dance partner..

Mouse stands up, slowly. "I'll dance, I'll dance," she says, looking down.

Canus chuckles, "Hopefully /neither/ of us will trip over our feat. His
eyes widen and a look of worry crosses his face as the music picks up pace.

Divya swings her hips a little bit in time to the drumbeat as she pours a
mug of Klah and carries it to Cailin. "Would you like to meet our
Weyrleader, now that his company is going to dance?"

Tarlo grins to Kassima and offers her a playful salute as she rises, and
padding lightly to the percussion rhythm as it picks up, she makes her way
over to S'rist.

Talene spots him as the boy comes a little closer, still appearing to be
looking for her. She points, "Look, there he is!" She smiles at Shoshana,
"Get out and have some fun." She takes another sip of her wine, with her
arms crossed as she watches to make sure he doesn't get too close to her.

"Hopefully.." Elie agrees as she begins a simple step, watching Canus
carefully. Or his feet, anyway.

Kassima raises her mug to return Tarlo's salute with an equally
lighthearted toast, and leans back in her chair to watch her erstwhile
tablemates at their fun and play.

Canus does much the same at Elie, though it is apparent he has at least
tried a step or two before. He doesnt seem to sure of his feet. In all the
two of them look not much better than a couple of young weyrbrats.

Cailin looks at Divya in surprise at the suggestion almost spilling a bit
of the klah as she accepts it. "Well, Alright. It's not everyday an
apprentice gets to meet a Weyrleader." She grins at the thought, "My
friends at the Hall will never believe me."

A big, clumsy lad turns away from his group of friends to scan the crowd.
Spotting Mouse and her saying 'I'll dance', it seems as if that's his best
prospect. Moving through the room, almost tripping several times, he
finally reaches her. Offering a hand, "Care to dance?"

One by one, the harpers with instruments cease playing, leaving the
freckled lad with the hand-drum alone to perform an intricate solo that
lasts several minutes. He winds it up with a flourish and the other
instruments take up the tune again as he beams in response to the
smattering of applause from the audience.

Shoshana makes a face, "Fun? From what you say there's no fun with him
involved." her eyes roam the dancefloor, a grin going to Elie who seems to
be dancing. She sighs and nods a little, "Fine...fine..." she mutters. "You
owe me though!" she warns, sweeping her way toward him, a big smile
plastered on her face.

Elie grins at Canus, a little sheepish. "I should get some more lessons
from Divya, so that I know what I'm doing when these parties come around."

"Sir," Tarlo addresses S'rist politely, "Would you like to dance?" she
offers her hand.

Canus chuckles at he looks at Elie, "Really, your not bad at all, and we
/all/ could use a few lessons." He smiles.

Divya grins and says, "Sure they will, since you'll have the word of a
Rider to back you up." She stops just before they reach S'rist when she
hears Tarlo's offer.

Mouse looks toward Tella quickly, then nods. "Okay," she says quickly,
stepping away from the table, third glass of wine definately gone by now.

Tella wriggles her fingers in Mouse and the big lad's direction before
turning to frown at the crowd.

Talene neatly jumps into the air, with a quiet, "Yes!" She watches and sips
at her wine while the boy spots Shoshana, still searching for Talene. He
asks her politely where Talene is, as the lost dance partner hides. She
seems interested in the going-on between the two.

"I guess that's true," Elie says; unfortunately, she's distracted enough by
the conversation to narrowly miss stepping on Canus's feet. "Oop! I'm
sorry," she says,blushing.

The lad smiles, nervously leading Mouse to the dance floor before turning,
one hand out and one poised to rest on her hip if she moves forward a bit.

Canus smiles softly, "No harm done." He no longer looks at his feet but at
the young woman's delicate features.

Elie notices Canus looking at her and her face pinks with pleasure; she
can't help but smile to herself.

Shoshana smiles serenly, though theres a bitter undertone to her smile. His
eyes /are/ freaky! "She...er...she had to take leave for a bit." she
fumbles. "There was a minor problem that required her attention." a pauses,
and she manages to forse out, "Would you care to dance?" her hand goes out
slowly with the offer, but it's moving very very hesitently.

Cailin just follows Divya and stops just a bit behind and to the side of
her. She looks to see why she stoped

Mouse moves into position. She really /does/ know how to dance, apparently,
and moves fairly well. From having someone so close, though, her face is
semi-permanently red.

S'rist rises, "Certainly ma'am." He takes the offered hand and leads the
young goldrider out to the dancefloor.

Canus almost stumbles, barely catching himself, he blushes deeply, "My turn
for an oops."

Divya grins and whispers to Cailin, "That's S'rist, dancing wtih the new
goldrider at Telgar, Tarlo."

Kassima grins to herself as Tarlo and S'rist join the others on the floor;
her eyes stray then towards Elie and Canus, and she gives them both an
encouraging smile. Never mind that they may well not see it. It's the
thought that counts, right?

Tarlo looks up at him and chuckles. "If you call me Tarlo, I'll call you
S'rist, unless you prefer 'Weyrleader' or 'sir', in which case, it's still
Tarlo, if that's alright." The tune is lively, and she falls into rhythm
with ease, and while not the most sophisticated of dancers, it's obvious
she enjoys the pasttime.

Cailin ohs and watches the pair as they dance for a moment, then grins to
Divya.

Elie laughs lightly, happily. "Well, we haven't mortally wounded one
another yet," she points out with a grin.

S'rist chuckles a bit as he gets involved in the dance, it's fairly obvious
that he's done more than a few turns on the dance floor in his turns, and
he knows the step to this one well. "Certainly, Tarlo it is then."

Tella sighs, turning to slouch in her chair, a frown on her lips. Her arms
cross over her chest. How interesting. A sulking greenrider.

With a rousing flourish of gitar, pipe, and drum, the harpers conclude the
current tune and immediately launch into a new one, just as lively. After a
few bars, it becomes recognizable as one of the more popular Teaching
Ballads; but in an unconventional arrangement. In place of the lyrics, a
quartet of two alto and two soprano pipes twines the melody about with
harmonic lines, upper and lower.

Divya says, "Well, is there anyone else you'd like to meet tonight?"

Tarlo oh's, as the dance they were dancing to ends just as they were
starting, but grins challengingly up at the man. "This one's intricate.
Think you can keep up?" she laughs wryly, certainly he's been at it longer
then she has.

The young man looks warily at Shoshana, and peers around her shoulder for
Talene. The baker causually but carefully manuvers to block any view he
could get of her friend. Finally he nods, taking her hand. They move onto
the dance floor, Shoshana just managing to hide a look a 'why me' behind
the smile. The begin to dance, Shoshana managing to step on his foot once
in the first few heartbeats of the dance. Skilled isn't she?

Elie nods, all but beaming. "It is! I just love it when we get to have
parties. We don't have them near enough here, I think."

S'rist chuckles a bit and sets into the dance, "I can keep up with it, sure
you know all the steps to it?" He grins back at the younger goldrider,
making sure to make all of the cross steps in this one.

Canus smiles, "Usually too busy in a Weyr for this type of thing."

Tarlo keeps up admirably, but isn't nearly as polished. "This? Pah. Knew it
in the cradle." she bluffs with a laugh, executing a turn at the music's
indication.

Elie nods agreement. "Yes, but," she shrugs. "It's marvelous when it does
happen! And I hear that there's to be a masquerade party at Telgar, soon."

Canus nods, "In a few days. DO you plan on attending?"

"Oh, yes!" Elie says, unhesitating. "My friend Emilly is going, and her
weyrmate G'rad said he'd give me a ride, too. I have my costume all ready."

S'rist laughs a bit, adding in another twist for Tarlo to take that is only
for those that really know the steps. "You must have gone through a lot of
shoes growing up then."

Mouse keeps dancing, looking torn between keeping her partner as far away
as she can manage and dancing properly.

Canus grins, "I'm still working on mine." He wraps an arm around Elie and
;leads her off the floor slowly as the music changes to a new song.

The man, boy, really, from Tillek twirls her around, with an exaggerated
look as she steps on his foot. He does grin at his friend, the portly
youngun'who ws from Tillek as well. The portly young man waves, with a
leering nod as Shoshana's dance partner turns to drool all over her. He
doesn't even seem to mind if she steps on his toes, as long as he gets lucky.

Tarlo does know the steps, but loses the ryhthm briefly trying to keep up.
She laughs. "I did go through a lot of shoes, but not because of dancing.
We were traders. I've done lots of walking. Ooh, here's a lift!"

Cailin smiles up at Divya, "Oh, thats ok, I'm sorry if I've been keeping
you, My mother would probably flay me for my manners tonight. I shouldn't
have kept you from your friends." She looks guiltly at the kind rider.
"Thank you so much for your kindness."

The lad, as clumsy as he is, often stumbles against Mouse, a blush rising
to his cheeks as he fumbles with an appology each time. As the pair pass
the group of friends, they burst out with audible cheers. Tisk tisk. What
friends.

Divya says, "It's not a problem. I can see most of these people whenever I
want to, if my duties for the day are finished."

Elie grins at Canus. "What're you going to be?" she asks him as she glances
around, looking for the nearest station that's serving wine.

S'rist lifts Tarlo up at the appropriate point, giving the half turn and
setting her back on her feet with a bit of toss. "Ah, that would certainly
do it, travel a lot of country like that. I wore out my share marching
patrols, but that was long ago now."

Two apprentice harpers, a boy who can't be more than eleven or twelve turns
and an older, taller girl, step to the front of the stage to perform in the
next number, which turns out to be a comic vocal duet. The boy, with his
clear, pure soprano, takes the part of an admiring young drudge who falls
in love with the haughty, overbearing Lady of his hold.

Canus looks toward Elie as he leads tyhem to one of the stations, "A
runner, I believe, tho it will be a truly sad costume."

Tarlo says "Really? Where? Sounds like you were a guard? My family has a
base hold in Keroon, but we traveled all over the place." she stops
breathlessly when the songs switch and smiles. "Thank you for the dance!"

Elie giggles. "A runner! That should be interesting. My costume is a
dragon-- but don't worry, I won't try to eat you," she teases.

Cailin grins with relief at Divya's understanding.

S'rist smiles and gives a touch of a bow, "My pleasure Tarlo, and yes, I
was a guard down at Tillek for a handful of turns before the brought me up
here to stay." He leads the goldrider back to the table. "Well, that was a
bit of fun."

Kallrina smiles warmly. "Nice work out there Sir,

Canus chuckles as he pours them each a small glass of wine. "That's good to
know. So am I to look for a dragon without an apeetite?"

Mouse's face is the same colour of red as the boy's, but she stays right
there. As the boy's friends cheer, she glares at them, as imposing as one
can be when you're her height and with a beet-red blush.

Shoshana fights not to run screaming, vomit, or something likewise. She
puts on a painfully friendly smile, teeth clenched, eyes pleading to
everyone she passes. Help! She begins to dance faster, easier to mess up
that way. And does she mess up! Every three steps at least theres a
*plunk*, and her eyes go wide, "I'm sorry!" and the boy winces. More dances
then just this one and he might not ahve feet left. Talene is located out
of the corner of her eye and giving a look of 'I now feel your pain...now
help!'

Tarlo laughs. "It was! Though you know, I think I was just the first in a
line of folks trying to get your attention..." she looks around briefly,
her eyes falling on Divya, offering the woman a friendly, questioning look.

Elie grins. "It's a blue costume," she confides. "So look for a blue dragon."

S'rist smiles, "True, but I tend not to take the floor as often as I used
too."

Canus smiles as he sips his wine, "A blue dragon? Those always were my
favorite."

The cheer dies down as theyr'e distracted by the song. Yeah, it's that, not
the imposing girl that quiets them. Hah. But the clumsy lad continues to
dance with Mouse, watching his feet.

Tarlo looks back to S'rist. "Why not? You're quite good, but I'm sure you
know that." she teases wryly.

"They're the cutest, I think," Elie agrees. "My friend T'risch has a blue.
His name's Dahlth, and he's really nice."

S'rist chuckles, "I tend to prefer to dance with my weyrmate, that's the
only real reason." He drifts back to his seat, picking up his glass for a
sip of wine.

Kassima blinks out of her near-trance--the visible absentmindedness of a
rider talking with her dragon--long enough to offer Tarlo a grin as the
younger woman returns to the table, and then slips back into her musings by
half. She leaves some share of attention for Elie and Canus's conversation,
which she's none-too-discreetly listening in on.

Mouse manages to make it through the dance without having her feet stepped
on, though she's certainly bumped any number of times. Flushing, she smiles
up at the boy as she steps away when the dance ends.

Canus nods, "There's always been a gentle look to the blues"

Divya grins and says, "Hello, S'rist. I just wanted to introduce Cailin to
you. She's an apprentice from the Beastcraft. Cailin, our Weyrleader
S'rist, rider to bronze Dzurath."

S'rist smiles and turns, "Pleasure to meet you Cailin."

The young lad thanks Mouse for the dance before turning away, face flaming,
as he returns to the group, earning much pats on the back.

Tarlo nods. "I know that feeling." she says with a sudden smile. "K'ran -
my weyrmate," She says 'weyrmate' in that way that indicates it's a new
thing for her, "He's not here tonight, and I would love to be dancing with
him. Which isn't to say it's not a pleasure to dance with you, of course."
She looks pauses in her chattering and smiles to Divya, shooting her an
apologetic look and silencing when she makes introductions.

Elie laughs. "Well, some of them. Some of them are just silly. Dahlth,
though, he's sweet. Although T'risch says he'd just sleep all day if he was
let." It's not really clear what this has to do with anything, but.

Talene doesn't seem to notice Shoshana's call for help, as she's staring at
the room through her wine glass. But, upon coming to the pair, she
straightenss and coughs. Then she's walking towards the pair in a stately
fashion, with her head up high and her back straight. She smiles at the
boy, and curtsies. "Excuse me, but my friend is needed in the kitchen."
Without waiting for another word, she's leading Shoshana to the serving
table. "Try some wine." Is suggested.

S'rist flashes a grin over towards Tarlo, "Well, then you understand, it's
fun to dance, but there's always that feeling you'd rather be dancing with
that someone else."

Canus grins, "True, that goes for most dragons, and people, that Ive come
to meet."

Cailin stares for a moment then shakes it off and smiles brightly "Herders
dutys to you Weyrleader," she curtzys.

Kassima can't quite resist teasing Tarlo, "Another reason t'be glad for the
lack of weyrmate, then: if'n a single woman can dance, and likes t'dance,
she can enjoy dancing with anyone at all without feeling that aught's
missing because they're nay her match."

Divya bursts out laughing and comments, "Kassima, I doubt there is a man on
Pern that is your match."

Cailin grins at the exchange.

S'rist grins, "So, was there anyone else that wanted a dance before I
become one with my chair again?"

Elie blinks at Canus. "Oh, do you think so? I don't think I'd want to sleep
all day." She frowns as she considers it. "It would be boring," she decides.

Tarlo nods in serious agreement to S'ris, and looks back at Kassima and
laughs. "I still enjoy dancing, and it just means that dancing with K'ran
when I have the opportunity is all the more special." she laughs and nods
again, this time in agreement with Divya. Wiping her eyes, she smiles up at
the woman. "I don't remember if we've been introduced," she says to both
Divya and Cailin, "I'm Tarlo, Cariath's rider."

Kallrina smiles. "Since Perran isn't here I'd take a dance Sir

Kassima turns her head at that, and her expression is, for a bare moment,
rather bleak before she summons a grin that's bright enough to pass muster.
"I have nay doubt whatsoever," she says, "that you're absolutely right."

Canus chuckles, "Neither would I, you'd miss far too much of the day if
that were the case."

"Oh I am? Gre...that's too bad. Nice to meet you...er..ah...yeah.
Alright...bye!" Shoshana babbles off quickly. Ahhh freedom. Icky Tillek boy
is left behind as she walks with Talene. She shakes her head though,
"Can't, I'm not allowed." she informs Tal. She pours herself some water
though and takes a few grateful sips. "You were right, he was awful!
Smelled funny too..." she comments, wrinkling her nose delicatly.

Elie giggles for no apparent reason, then regains her composure to say,
"Yes, I miss enough of it as it is doing work."

S'rist turns and smiles, "Sure then Kallrina, let's catch this one before
the tuen changes again." He steps over and offers the nanny a hand.

Divya grins and says, "I'm Divya, rider to Konnevath here. It's a pleasure
to meet you, Tarlo."

Kallrina takes his hand and follows the weyrleader out to the dance floor.

Cailin smiles shyly at Tarlo's introduction "Pleasure to met you, I'm Cailin."

Mouse says to Tella when she comes back, "I want to go off for a bit and
see if I can find a friend. All right? Can I still come back with you?"

S'rist leads Kallrina out into a fast stepped dance with a grin, "I hope
you have sturdy shoes on, this is a fast step."

Canus giggles a bit himself with Elie, "I've always loved my work. More so
when I was a stablehand, but stil."

Tella looks up from her sulky position to Mouse, a slight smile curving her
lips. "Sounds good. Of course you can."

Talene nods as she listens, "And you didn't believe me." She wrinkles her
nose as well, "Smelled like...I don't know, but it was digusting." She
shakes her head, "And would you believe his friend?" She shudders. "You
saved me, I saved you, we're even." She sips at her wine, with her nose
still wrinkled up as she keeps a wary lookout for the boy.

Tarlo smiles. "Hello Cailin, Divya. Ahhh..." her eyes alight on Divya.
"You're life-mate to one of those browns Cariath's making eyes at." she grins.

Kallrina grins. "I can keep up with any dance Sir, can ye keep up wit me?

Mouse doesn't even really wait for the response - she slips off somewhere.

Mouse walks outside to the bowl.

Elie peers at Canus in disbelief. "You /liked/ being a stablehand?"
Muck-shoveling... ew!

Divya nods and says, "Yes. Right now he's cuddles up next to Lysseth. He's
been hankering to cuddle with her ever since her last mating flight."

"Don't tell Lysseth that," Kassi suggests dryly to Tarlo. "Methinks, at the
moment, she'd be piqued, and putting up with her when some other dragon
makes eyes at Taralyth's quite bad enough." She darts a grin to Divya then.
"Good of him t'remember; some do and some don't, I've found."

Canus chuckles, "Sure there were some rather disgusting parts of the job,
but I loved being around my beasties." A note of deep affection for said
animals come from his voice.

S'rist chuckles and sends Kallrina into the turn of the dance, "I certainly
can try, it's more fun to dance in step then to leave someone behind in the
dance."

Divya admits, "He likes /all/ female dragons, golds and greens alike. He's
a bit of a flirt, but a polite one. He learned some of his tricks from
Chaedanth, Kandri's lifemate."

Tarlo grins at Lysseth's rider. "It's alright," she assures, "Cariath eyes
all the browns and bronzes. "I'm just grateful she hasn't risen yet." She
nods to Divya. "Sounds a lot like Alerith. He's one of the biggest brown
flirts on all of Pern." she chuckles.

Kallrina twirls and comes back as if she's been doing this dance her whole
life. "Aye, this never fun when someone gets left behind and can't complete
the dance.

Elie tilts her head in acknowledgement and drains the last of the wine from
her glass. "Animals are nice, sometimes," she admits. "One of my friends
has this little furry thing, about so big," she holds her hands apart, "for
a pet. It's cute."

Shoshana shudders, taking another long drink of water as if to clear her
memory of him with the fresh drink. "Smelled like three day old packtail
with sevenday old cider poured over it that's been resting in the Istan
sun." she says promptly. Don't ask...all that needs be known is that it was
a bad smell. Out of the corner of her eye she catches Nasty-boy and his
nasty friend begin to pester a small group of girls from High Reaches Hold.
Shaking her head in sympathy for them she shifts her attention away.
"So...you spotted anyone that's handsome without creepy eyes?" she asks
quietly.

S'rist smiles and finishes the steps to the dance, and when the music
pauses, he leads Kallrina back to the table, "Thank you Kallrina for the
dance."

Canus smiles softly as he finishes his wine himself, "That's nice."

Kallrina smiles softly. "Yer welcome Sir, thank you. Tis a shame Perran,
and Math canna be here.

S'rist grins as he takes his seat, "I have to agree with you on that, I'm
sure they'd both be enjoying the dancing."

"*Chaedanth*," Kassi repeats in a good-natured groan. "I've heard of him;
he's getting t'be legendary for his prowess, they say! And I know that,
Tarlo, and you know that, but Lyss... well, she's jealous. Should've heard
her mutter when Temornath was nuzzling Taralyth on one of our trips here.
If'n she were human, she'd probably plot revenge, wicked creature. And
mayhaps you can tell me, Tarlo--did Alerith pick that up from Fasolth, or
Fasolth from Alerith?"

Tarlo admits, "You know, I'm not entirely sure. Alerith tends to flirt very
directly, while Fasolth is positively shameless. He twined necks with no
less then three other dragons that one night during that wine tasting...was
that here, or Igen? I don't remember."

Kallrina smiles. "Aye, along with the food..

Divya says, "Konnevath doesn't have Chae's success with greens, but it
doesn't stop him from trying. Which reminds me, I need to check on
something for him. Would you all please excuse me?"

Kassima chortles outright at the memory. "Here, 'twas; I still recall it--I
always recall an occasion on which I'm given free alcohol. And I don't go
oft t'Igen besides." She bobbles her chin to Divya agreeably. "A'course,
a'course. Clear skies, and regards to that well-flying brown of yours."

Divya wanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Talene nods softly, a blush deepening her face. She stands up on her
tippy-toes to get a better look at the crowd, spotting who she's looking
for way in the corner. He was wavy dark brown, but his eyes are hidden from
view, he has them closed. "I think he's from Crom Hold." She says with a
shrug, and another sip from her dwindling wine glass is taken.

Tarlo nods and smiles to Divya. "Pleasure meeting you. Clear skies!"

Elie nods her head. "Yes. Well," she says, smiling at Canus as she changes
the subject, "what do you do-- now that you're not a stablehand?"

Canus shrugs, "I was an assistant steward for a while, tho the last few
Turns ive been travelling through various patrs of the world."

Elie ohs. "You don't live at Telgar then?" her glance flicks back through
the room, finding a few of the Telgar riders she was talking to earlier. "I
thought you were with them.

Canus Nods, "Oh i AM, i JUST RECENTLY RETURNED."

Kallrina jumps and looks over to see who is yelling.

Tarlo turns to Cailin. "So is this your first big event here?" she asks.

"She's a nice sort," Kassi observes as Divya departs. "Don't know her all
that well, but anyone who likes t'drink brandy can't be all bad."

Shoshana smiles at her friend, craning her neck to get a better look.
"Hmmmmm..." she muses, tilting her head from side to side. Eventually she
settles back down, giving a nod of approval. "He's handsome." she murmurs.
"You going to go talk to him?" she inquires, her eyes twinkling.

Cailin smiles to the goldridder, "Yes, I'm afraid I've never gotten out
much before. I got to be here tonight by pure chance."

"It must be fun to travel," Elie says enthusiastically. "Which places have
you been to? I used to travel some, with my family-- they're traders-- but
I've never been outside the 'Reaches area."

Perran wanders into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Talene's eyes widen and she shakes her head, "Most definately not. Look,
he's over there being quiet...and not wanting to be bothered." She shuts
her mouth, firmly shaking her head.

Perran comes in humming to himself.

Casmira strides into the cavern from the lower caverns.

Casmira waners in and calls "Good evening" to everyone....

S'rist slides back into his seat and picks up his glass again, "Good
evening." He calls back through the din of harpers, dancing, and the
conversations all about.

Tarlo grins. "Well, then you're pretty lucky. I didn't hear if you said,
where are you from originally?"

Canus smiles thoughtfully, "It's an amazing experience. I spent a lot of
time around fort and South Boll. Reallyy is a beautiful area, if a bit warm."

"Oh but Talene, maybe he's looking right over here thinking 'I can't talk
to her, she's being quiet and not wanting to be bothered.'" Shoshana says
slyly. "Anyway, you'll never know if he'd like you if you don't try."

"G'deve," Kassi calls back to Casmira, inclining her head in greeting.
Overhearing Cailin's words, she wonders sympathetically, "D'your parents
try t'keep you at home, then?"

Casmira gets herself a plate of food, a drink, and a seat...

Elie nods. "I think the 'Reaches is just right, in terms of weather. You
get some cold weather and some warm weather. And there's snow-- I like snow."

Perran looks around and sees Kallrina. He grins and walks over to her.
"Kallrina." He grins down. "You look lovely tonight."

Jacera smiles and dwaves to the brightly dressed Casmira. "Hello there!"

Canus grins, "Snow is beautiful."

Kallrina smiles warmly. "Thank ye dear.

Casmira sees Jacera and makes sure the seat she gets in next to her friend...

Cailin smiles "High Plateau Hold, it's rather small but we breed good
runners." Hearing Kassi's question she turns to her, "My mother did, but my
father finally convinced her I would be happier as a herder."

Casmira smiles...."Hello Jacera. How's the party? I'm working on getting
the ingrediaents for that paste...."

Elie nods. "Last winter, Emilly and I-- well, you don't know her, but she's
my best friend here, she's really nice-- a whole bunch of us had a big
snowball fight. It was a lot of fun!"

Tella sighs, pushing to her feet. She glances about the room one final time
before stomping out. And almost falling over a chair. Righting herself, she
leaves.

Tella strolls outside to the bowl.

Kassima snaps her fingers. "That's right. I heard someone mention 'twere a
Herder Apprentice--forgive m'manners in nay even introducing m'self a'fore
I start with the personal questions; I'm Kassima, Kassi if'n you rather.
Attached to a great green thing that occasionally makes itself useful and
insists it should be called Lysseth. Well met and all. What sorts of
animals d'you work with in the Craft--or want to, mayhaps I should say?
If'n you've nay specialized yet."

Kallrina looks at Perran. "Aye snowball figts can be fun"

Canus chuckles, "I've actually never been in a snowball fight." He suddenly
gets a worried look on his face, "It's late, I really must be going.... but
I will see you tomorrow?" A hint of hope in his voice.

Perran grins and sits down by Rina and nods. "Definately."

Kallrina blushes slightly as she takes Perrans hand as he sits down.

Elie smiles brightly at Canus. "Sure, if you're still going to be here-- if
you can't find me, try the water caverns," she says helpfully. "I do laundry."

S'rist gets to his feet again, "I wish you all a good night, and for those
of you visiting, I'm glad you came to see us here at the 'reaches. I myself
have scheduled myself for early morning sweeps, so I should turn in early."

From Kallrina's shoulder, Belle tugs a ribbon loose from her pets hair and
gives it to Perran.

Casmira takes a bite of food.....swallowing she replies to S'rist..."Good
night, sir."

Canus chuckles, "I'll look for you>" He gets up and heads out of the
cavern. He looks back across the cavern from the entrance asnd his eyes
meet with Elie's and a wide smile crosses his face.

Kallrina smiles warmly. "G'night Sir.

A kitchen drudge ambles into the room, looking around. After locating
Shoshana he trudges toward her and proceeds to mutter something in her ear.
The apprentice scowls, and sighs. "Hey Tal...I need to go tend to some
business in the kitchen...go talk to him." she gives her friend a little
nudge and then moves toward the kitchen, grabbing her apron as she enters.

Cailin says "Good night sir."

Perran laughs taking the ribbon from Belle with he free hand. He squeezes
hers. "Want this back?" Then he smiles over at S'rist. "Good night."

Elie waves to Canus as he leaves, grinning.

Canus walks outside to the bowl.

Kassima looks over to snap the Weyrleader a salute. "G'night, sir. Duties
again t'your Weyr and her queens."

Shoshana steps away from the tables and heads into the busy kitchen.

S'rist walks outside to the bowl.

Tarlo considers. "That's not far from Keroon, right?"

Kallrina sighs. and smiles. "Maybe latter, she left them alone most of the
night.

Casmira takes a sip of her drink....

Elie makes her way over toward Talene and flops into a chair, sighing
heavily but with a smile on her face.

Kallrina kisses Perran's cheek. "How was your day love

Perran pockets the ribbon and grins at Rina. "It was good. How was yours?"

Talene fidgets as she glances at Elie. She smiles, and smooths down her
dress, fusses with her hair, twirling around. "How do I look Elie?"

Kallrina smiles. "Nice, quite....I missed you during the festival.

Cailin smiles brightly "Right, we're just across the river." looks pleased
that someone might know where she is from.

Tarlo nods. "My family has their base hold not far from there." she pauses.
"How are you getting home?" she asks in concern.

Elie looks Talene over. "You look fine-- why?"

Perran smiles and nods. "I'm sorry to have missed it. And feeling a little
underdressed at the moment."

Casmira smiles..."I *always* dress brightly. I love bright colors too much
not to wear them all the time."

Kallrina smiles and pats Perran's cheek. "I just wnated and excuse to wear
this dress finally.

Perran smiles over at her. "I'm glad you did."

Cailin notes her consern, "Oh, I'm here with some of the herders from my
hall, we have been delivering some stock to several locations in the area,
and then are returning with new purcheses.

Talene glances towards the young man from Crom, "I'm going to go talk to
him." She runs her hands down her dress again, and walks over. She
curtsies, and smiles, a blush deepening her face. "Good evening, sir. I'm
Talene. It's a pleasure to finally be able to talk to you." The seem to
take off on dove's wings, carrying on a conversation in the corner.

Kallrina smiles and blushes a tad. "Lan all put to bed?

Tarlo nods. "Good. I was worried you might have been stuck."

"What're you hoping t'buy from High Reaches?" Kassi wonders curiously,
brows lifting. "Or is this just a delivery spot?"

Perran nods his head. "Fast asleep."

Perran nods his head. "Sure."

Kallrina gets up slowly. "G'night all.

Casmira smiles..."Good night Kallrina."

Tarlo looks over. "Good night." she says amiably.

Elie hides a grin behind her hand as she watches Talene pursue her chosen
young man.

Jacera stands up and smiles. "I think perhaps Kllrina as the right idea. I
think I'll be off too."

Kassima wiggles her fingers in a wave to the departing. "G'night; sleep well."

Casmira sighs..."I'm sorry I'm so late. Good night then, Jacera. Sleep well."

Perran gets up and nods. "Good night." He adds to Rina's.

Talene turns away from her young man long enough to wave to Jacera, "Good
night!"

Jacera grins and waves as she disappears into the deeper caverns of the weyr.

Kallrina strides through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Cailin considers "I think we're to drop off some bovine and pick up a
runner,. I got to come with as I'm good with the runners." she smiles to
those departing.

Perran wanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Jacera meanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Kassima decides, grinning, "I've a cousin-by-handfasting who'd like you;
she's a Herder who specializes in breeding runners. She's working on a line
of racers now... what sort of runner is it, d'you know? Nay that 'tis any
of m'business. I'm just a curious sort."

"So, you live here now?" The young man asks. Still blushing, the young girl
bows her head, "It's home." The young man smiles, and gestures to her dress
then, the usual compliments, "You look splendid in that dress, Talene." He
takes her hand, and kisses it softly, "I am so glad to have had this chance
to meet you tonight." A charmer!

Tarlo nods. "I like runners. I'm not runner-crazy, the way my youngest
sister is, but they're good animals. We used them a lot on the road." she
grins. "My weyrmate used to be a stablehand, but I'm not sure if it was
because he especially loved runners. Kassi, do you know anything about that?"

Cailin smiles at Kassima, "I'm just an apprenice I'm afraid they don't give
me the details." then turns to Tarlo "Is your sister at the Beastcraft
then? I might know her."

Casmira eats her dinner, listening to the talk and sipping her wine...

Kassima rubs at the back of her neck, thinking. "I can't really recall... I
didn't know K'ran much prior t'his Impression," she admits, rather
sheepishly. "But 'tis hard t'picture him as the animal-loving sort somehow.
Nay that I'd think he hates 'em, only I can't see him cuddling up to a
runner and calling it his sweet thing, y'know?" She pauses. "Which is
probably just as well, all things considered."

Elie discards her wineglass and stands, wandering over to join Tarlo and
the others. She inserts herself in their group with a smile, just listening
to the conversation.

Cailin returns the smile.

Tarlo grins a welcome to Elie and says, "My sister's name is Kirsti...she's
got a twin, my brother Kirsin. I don't know if she's enter Beastcraft, when
I was last at our base hold in Keroon, she was runner-happy, but that was
three or four years ago."

Elie notices Cailin looking at her and shifts self-consciously, twitching
her skirt with her fingers.

Cailin nods, "Yes I think I have met her. She likes to hunt?"

Kassima gives a low whistle. "Twins in your family? I hope that doesn't
bode ill--though it could be well, depending on perspective... nice names,
Kirsti and Kirsin." Trust her to think so. She greets Elie's return with a
smile, inclining her head towards an open seat to invite her to take it if
she likes.

Talene blushes a deep red, slowly taking her hand away. They fall into a
soft conversation, appearing to be all but oblivious to the fading crowd,
until it comes his time to go. She watches him as he leaves, turning around
to head to the serving table. She grabs another half-filled glass of wine,
though she's starting to look as if she's flushed from all the wine.

Casmira says "I have a brother, but he's not a twin. It would be
interesting to have a twin."

Elie smiles at Kassima and slips into the offerred seat. "Why would twins
be bad?" she ventures.

Tarlo considers. "Yeah, she and Kirsin loved snake-hunting, at least. Did
she apprentice in Beastcraft afterall?" she smiles to Kassima. "They
weren't very traditionally named, after my mother's parents instead of
after her and Fa." she grins ruefully at Casmira. "They're monsters. Or,
they were." To Kassi, she chuckles ruefully. "My eldest sister seems to
have gotten the fecund tendencies in my family. She's also hippier and
rounder then me. I'm not built for breeding, thank Faranth."

Casmira grins..."ALL men are mosters, at one time or another. Some stay
that way all the time."

"Twins run in families," Kassi explains, leaning one cheek against her
upraised fist. "Or do sometimes. So if'n there are twins in your family,
you're more likely t'have 'em yourself--and that's nay *bad* precisely
except for the birthing part." A grin is flickered towards Tarlo. "What,
you and K'ran aren't going t'have any? That's a pity. Methinks he'd like
t'have a child or two with you... and you could name them K-things quite
legitimately."

Elie thins her lips as Casmira's words evoke some thought that she doesn't
share-- she only nods emphatic agreement.

Tarlo says quickly, "No, we'll have children...but not many, I think. I'm
not looking to become a mother, but I'll be happy when it happens."

Talene comes up behind Elie and stays quietly, glancing around at the
slipping crowd. She brings a hand up politely as she yawns, her eyes
half-closing sleepily.

Casmira says "I don't know, about me having kids. There are lots of kids in
my family, all the women seem to have lots. No one would miss it if I
didn't have any. Besides, it takes two. And so far I haven't had any men
that were interested in *me* enough that I was also interested in *them*
enough.""

Cailin smiles at Tarlo's comments, "My aunt use to say that, but she turned
out a great mother."

Elie glances back at Talene, curious to see who's behind her, and smiles
when she recognizes the girl. "Oh, hi again," she says. "Did that other
fellow leave?"

Kassima decides, smiling, "Methinks 'twill be interesting t'see what sort
of children you two produce. 'Twill have t'keep ducking Thread awhile
longer just t'see that." Shifting in her seat, she suggests to Casmira with
quite the straight face, "Try alcohol. Alcohol definitely solves that last
problem."

Tarlo smiles, a bit meekly at Cailin. "My children will have to be fostered
out once they're a certain age." she explains quietly. "At least, that's
the impression I've gotten. But that's alright, I have friends that I trust
who would make excellent foster mothers."

Casmira giggles...."That might work for getting them interested, but it
would also impead...um..performance."

Talene nods to Elie, with a tired smile. "Yeah, he had to head home." She
yawns again, "I'm getting kind of sleepy anyways, so I just might head to
my bed soon."

Cailin smiles at Tarlo's confidence, and nods. "I forgot for a moment." she
replies just as soft.

Casmira says "Besides, *I'd* need to be interested too, and I *don't* get
drunk."

"Oh, I know," Elie says, "me too.." she glances at the Telgarians, though;
apparently their conversation is interesting enough to keep her here for
the time being.

Casmira grins..."Someday someone special will appear, and I'll just rope
and hog tie him."

Kassima gravely informs, "That depends entirely on the man. The father of
m'second daughter used t'say he was most virile when he was drunk. And
J'lyn... well... all right, so I can't explain J'lyn, but he fathered the
twins so that must say something." She asides to Tarlo, "You could try
raising 'em on your own if you really wanted, with some aid from nannies;
I've known rider women who did that. Most can't endure the sort of
time-sacrifice it requires, though. Self included... oh, you don't?" she
asks, turning back to Casmira. "Pity--you're missing out. But rope and hog
tie, that'd work."

Tarlo grins wryly to Kassima. "Women like Alessandra make wonderful
mothers, it's what they want to do. Me? I just don't know."

Casmira shakes her head at Kassima's question..."It's not the drinking,
it's the hangover and being sick after. I got into my Mother wine stores
when I was six and got drunker than a tavern souse. Never again."...

A journyman herder peeks in and looks around. He spies Cailin and gestures
for her to come.

"Alessandra will be a fantastic mother," Kassi decides, nodding. "And
I'sai's already a wonderful father, so 'twill be a lucky bairn in both of
them. Whatever jests I make with m'Wingriders, there's really nay need
t'rush on children unless you truly *want* them. I'd ridden for Turns
a'fore I had Kay, and I don't regret it a whit." Making a sound of
comprehension, she nods again, this time to Casmira. "Tincture of
asparagus," she says wisely. "Best hangover remedy known."

Casmira nods...."That's what my Mother said too. When I was sober enough,
and over being sick enough, to understand."

Cailin spies the journyman "Oh, I've got to go!" she smiles to her
companions "Excuse me. It's been a pleasure to meet you all." She grins to
Tarlo and looks to the group "Good night."

Casmira says "Good night Cailin."

Tarlo smiles. "Good night, Cailin!"

Kassima smiles to Cailin. "A pleasure likewise. G'deve, Apprentice."

Cailin heads to the door and waves as she leaves the room.

Cailin strides outside to the bowl.

Tarlo remarks, "My mother used to have my elder brothers and my father
stick their heads in tubs of ice."

Casmira looks curious..."Did that help?"

Kassima nods to that suggestion as well. "Cold water over the head,
asparagus and possibly one of those vile powders some of the Weyr folk make
up, a very light breakfast of mild foods and strong tea, and you're as good
as new."

Elie shudders. "Ice? I think I'd rather have the hangover."

Casmira blinks..."Vile powders?"

"I don't know what's in 'em," Kassi says apologetically. "But y'know what I
mean--home remedies, that sort of thing? Some of 'em do work, if'n you can
stomach 'em."

Casmira nods..."My Mothers does herb craft, and I am leaning it too. If you
get a mix from a person who knows what they are doing, it can help. But
there is alot of bad stuff. My Mother used to make hangover cures taste
nasty...she said to help discourage them from doing it again."

Tarlo grins. "Did it do any good?"

"I'd wager nigh aught it didn't," Kassi murmurs, laughing quietly.

Casmira grins..."Well, with most, yes. But not with one of my Uncles....he
could drink the sea dry, given a chance. He's has a grant time at every
Gather. We'd just have to tie him to the wagon the next morning, with his
head over the side in case he got sick. Every time he swore never again,
and at the next Gather there he is."

Tarlo chuckles. "Yeah, I know a few like that."

Kassima's chortle is sympathetic. "He sounds like a few riders I could
name, except hopefully he doesn't do aught too *embarrassing* when drunk."

Casmira grins..."At least he's a friendly drunk."

Tarlo says quickly, "That's a really good thing. So often, people aren't."

Kassima's nod is a touch grim. "A shame one can't dunk the ones who hurt
people while drunk in agenothree instead of cold water."

Casmira laughs..."Well, there was the mooning contest. And the fish
spitting contest. And the standing on your head whileplaying the
fiddle...or rather *trying* to....."

Elie blinks. "Fish spitting contest?" she can't help but ask.

Kassima rather grins at that. "Now there's a trick I'd like t'be seeing
someone succeed at! And I'm afraid t'ask how they were *competing* in
mooning...."

Tarlo says "Who's got the better rear?"

Casmira nodnods..."Yes, you see you try to get fish all the same size....of
course when you can't see clearly this causes problems....and you have them
all line up with the fish in their mouths....assuming they can *stand*
up...and put a line out about six feet away. They are *supposed* to sit the
fish over the line....but they get turned around, fall over, choke on the
fish if you don't watch them....I've never seen a winner yet....."

Talene jerks awake. Apparently, she had dozed, standing tall on her feet.
Weird. She must be extremely tired, her eyes dragging. She dumps her wine
out, and cleans up the glass, stretching as she heads towards the lower
caverns, "I'm going to bed before I fall alseep on one of you. Goodnight,
and thanks for coming." She says, in a weary tone.

Talene strolls through the archway, into the lower caverns.

Casmira waves..."Goodnight Talene."

Excuse Kassi. She has, overall, been well-behaved and decorous this
evening. But this tale is too much: pushing her plate out of the way, she
folds her arms, rests her forehead on the tabletop, and collapses into
silent shoulder-shaking laughter. One of her hands flops in what's probably
meant to be a wave after the departing girl.

Casmira looks back at Kassima and Tarlo..."Well, that's part of it. It
usually starts with the poor sots having to take a wiz after drinking too
much for hours, and they barely make it outside. Then they have to
compare...being men...and since they can barely see this usually ends up
instead in a ...er...pissing contest. Distance and amount, don'tcha know....

Elie looks almost ill. "That's.. ew," is all she can say to that.

Tarlo snorts. "I don't think I've stayed up late enough on trade routes or
in the weyr to see that. And I think I'm grateful."

Casmira says "After this all important and critical contest, they usually
can't seem to get their pants back up properly, and someone...usually my
Uncle....starts mooning the passerbys....especially the female ones....he
trys to make sure to do it to the nice, good looking ones, but since he
can'r see well any age will do...or anyone if he's too drunk to tell who'se
who...."

Elie shakes her head. "Ick!"

Kassima's previously flopping hand forms into a fist and bangs--with enough
restraint of force to be muffled, thankfully--against the table as the
hilarity continues.

Casmira continues on..."So, of course if *one* drunk does it they all start
to...and pretty soon they are trying to keep score for points...who gets
the most audience, who gets the strongest reaction, etc. But, since they
can hardly stand up they really can't count very well....

Casmira says "Last my my cousin mooned a huge Smith, and got a black eye
for his trouble. And what do you think? They counted that as two points
later....."

"Men," Kassi decides in her muffled, face-down-on-the-table way, "are the
strangest creatures t'ever have existed. I swear it."

Elie can't help but giggle at this news.

Casmira giggles..."Finally my Grandmother and the other women usually put a
stop to it. They grab they're long handled, heavy cooking spoons and start
smacking rumps as hard as they can. This usually has drunk men running in
all directions, stumbling because of their being drunk *and* having their
pants at half mast, while the ladies chase the men back to the waggons.
They are all afraid of my Grandmother. *She* gets to dose most of them the
next day. Once my Uncle mooned a farmer lass, and her family ended up so
insulted they insisted that he had to marry her. She's my Aunt now. And she
wields a mean spoon, too. He got five whole poits for her....

Kassima is just going to do the only safe thing now, and curl up in a ball
in her seat and cry with laughter. She's make a comment, but she just
can't; that would require a lot more air than she's getting.

Elie's eyes go wide in dismay. "She had to /marry/ him?" she's a lot more
concerned for the woman than the man, note.

Tarlo blinks. "For just seeing his rear?"

"Was it such a good rear that it spoiled her for all other men?" Kassi
manages to get out through her snickers.

Elie says "Even if she saw.. more than that.. that's..."

Casmira says "Fortunatly my brother is a much more sober type....Yep. Oh,
she was pleased enough, and so was he when he was sober. She was from a
huge family, with not much in the way of expectations. We women got
together and made she she was willing and all before the wedding.
Grandmother gave her her own spoon for a wedding present too, and she
*uses* it. They get along grandly."

Tarlo grins. "I just can't picture it. A long, happy life of...thwacking a
man with a spoon."

Casmira smiles..."We'd *never* let a woman be forced against her will, I
promise you. But she was happy to go. I don't think she liked it at home
anyway. And she wanted to travel, so joining a group of Traders was getting
her dream too. And my Uncle is a grand man, when he's sober, and great fun
when he's drunk."

Casmira grins..."It turned into a love match, that's why it was apparetnly
worth so many points."

Kassima pushes herself up from the table, finally, long hair drifted into
her face and tears of laughter streaking down pale cheeks. "That, I must
say, is the most priceless story I've heard all Turn. And I'm glad it
turned out all right in the end, although 'twouldn't be happy hitting a man
on the behind with a spoon for Turns and Turns m'self. I prefer knives."

Elie grins. "Lucky for them both, I guess."

Casmira smiles,...."Ah well, people show love in all sorts of ways. He says
he sometimes gets into trouble just so she can twack him, because the
making up is so much fun."

Casmira says "Of course, you all know about the belching contest too,
right? That's always a favorite...."

Elie declares, "That's just weird."

"Belching... contest," Kassi repeats, in the tone of someone who isn't at
all sure she really wants to know.

Casmira shrugs..."Well, they are happy, so it seems to work for them."

Tarlo sums it up. "Men are strange."

Casmira grins..."Yep, that's about it."

"Women are also strange," Kassi points out. "For putting up with men."

Casmira grins.."Well, *someone* has to look out for them. We need them for
making babies and heavy lifting and such, so we have to save them from
themseleves sometimes....

Casmira laughs...

Kassima agrees with mock-seriousness, "And killing insects. We need them
t'be killing insects."

Casmira nods, all mock serious..."Yep, that too."

Elie smirks. "I'd kill my own insects, if I didn't have to clean up the
messes men make of their clothes."

Tarlo admits, "There's not much else, is there?"

Casmira grins at Elie..."I'd almost agree with you, but I just can't
*stand* bugs....ewwwww...."...she shudders.

Elie continues, "Do you know, after G'rad graduated, from being a weyrling,
and Emilly moved into his new weyr-- I found her doing laundry a few days
later. It was his socks. Some of them were STIFF, like stones. He hadn't
washed them the whole time he was a weyrling."

Casmira ewwwwwwwssss

"They're good for tormenting," Kassi muses. "They blush in the prettiest
colors... all right, I'm nay precisely the epitome of cleanliness-obsession
either, but that's *revolting*."

Elie makes an awful face. "I don't know why she washed them. If /I/ had a
weyrmate, and he had socks that were that icky, I'd make /him/ do it."

Casmira looks thoughtful..."Maybe we should get her a long handled spoon?"

Elie grins. "That's a thought, truly."

Casmira grins..."Hey, it works for the women in my family."

Elie admits, "I don' tknow if she'd use it."

Casmira says "Well, she could always iron creases in his shorts. They hate
that.""

Kassima laughs again, and pushes back from her seat, rising with a rustling
of skirts. "As much as I'd like t'be continuing conjecture... there's
drills in the morning; I need t'get back to the Weyr and get t'sleep. 'Twas
a pleasure meeting you, Casmira, Elie."

Elie giggles. "With him in them?" she suggests.

Casmira smiles..."Goodnight Kassima. I guess I need to get to bed too, it's
getting really late..."

Elie waves to Kassima. "Good night, ma'am. I'm glad you came," she says
sincerely.

Casmira giggles..."Well, usually without, but with him it them would make
the point too I imagine."

Casmira yawns and rises..."Goodnight all. I hope to see you all again."

Casmira waves goodnight, and heads for bed....

Casmira meanders through the archway, into the lower caverns.

"Kassima," Kassi corrects on a groan. "Never ma'am! And so am I, Elie;
'twas a treat. G'devening!" With that, and a wave, she ducks for the door.

You meander outside to the bowl.

Kassima rubs at her eyes as she rustles across the Bowl to her dragon,
muttering something about spoons and men's rears and paying no real
attention to her surroundings.

You place one hand on Lysseth's neck and she warbles down at you fondly.
You grin and scratch her eyeridges once before climbing up onto her lower
neckridges, using the riding straps and Lysseth's thoughtfully offered
foreleg.

<*> Lysseth spreads her wings to their full extent, bringing them down with
a rush of wind as she leaps nimbly into the air.

You spring powerfully into the sky.